Medieval Near East Geography & Empires
This region—made up mostly of Afghanistan, Iran, and Iraq—was important because it connected Asia, Africa, and Europe through trade routes.
What is the Medieval Near East
Ibn Battuta’s travels began after he left this city on his pilgrimage to Mecca.
What is Tangier
The Mamluks first became powerful as this type of military group before ruling Egypt.
What are slave-soldiers
The Black Death was mainly caused by this type of disease.
What is a plague / bacterial infection from fleas
The holy city all Muslims must try to visit at least once in their lifetime.
What is Mecca
This city, centered in modern day Iraq, was famous for learning, trade, and the House of Wisdom.
What is Baghdad
Ibn Battuta visited this Egyptian city known for the Lighthouse and its important port on the Mediterranean.
What is Alexandria
The Mamluk Empire reached its height in this major city, which Ibn Battuta described as stunning and full of life.
What is Cairo
The plague likely spread through trade routes by these small animals carrying infected fleas.
What are the Rats
airo became a “site of encounter” because merchants, scholars, and pilgrims from these three continents met there.
What are Africa, Asia, and Europe
Herat and Isfahan flourished culturally under this empire known for art, manuscripts, and architecture.
What is the Timurid Empire or Afghanistan
Ibn Battuta was shocked by the harsh climate of this desert, which travelers crossed to reach West African gold.
What is the Sahara Desert
Cairo thrived because it was located at the meeting point of these two major regions—Africa and…?
What is the Middle East/Asia
Cairo, just like Europe, suffered huge population loss during this 14th-century event.
What is the Black Death
Ibn Battuta observed these daily prayers that all Muslims perform.
What are the Five Pillars / daily prayers (salah)
This major trade route connected the Middle East to China and Europe, carrying silk, spices, and ideas.
What is the Silk Road
This Indian city became Ibn Battuta’s home for years when he worked as a judge under the Delhi Sultanate.
What is Delhi
This famous learning center in Cairo trained Islamic scholars from across Africa and Asia.
What is Al-Azhar University
This major trade network helped spread the plague from China to the Middle East and Europe.
What is the Silk Road
Islamic scholars preserved and expanded knowledge in fields such as mathematics and this science of the stars.
What is astronomy
This Middle Eastern city was known for mathematics, astronomy, and scholars translating Greek and Persian texts into Arabic.
What is Cairo/Baghdad
Ibn Battuta passed through this city in Iraq, which had been a major center of Islamic learning before the Mongol invasion.
What is Baghdad
The Mamluks gained prestige after defeating this empire’s armies during the 1200s.
Who are the Mongols
One major effect of the Black Death was a shift in power because so many workers died, causing this economic change.
What are labor shortages / higher wages
Because so many different cultures passed through Cairo, people had to learn to do this in order to trade and live peacefully.
What is cultural blending / cooperation / tolerance?