Islam
This holy book of Islam's name means "the recitation," since it was originally passed down through oral recitation and memorization.
What is the Qu'ran?
As a small child, Muhammad lived in the desert among this group of Arabian nomads.
Who were the Bedouins?
This caliph was Muhammad's son-in-law and the leader of the Shi'ite Muslims.
Who was Ali?
This city became the capital of the Islamic Empire during the Classical Age starting in the year 762.
What is Baghdad?
This series of wars between Christians and Muslims was caused in part by Muslim Turks refusing to let Christians visit the holy city of Jerusalem.
What were the Crusades?
This is the holiest city in Islam, which Muslims face during prayer. Muslims are expected to make a pilgrimage to the Kaaba in this city at least once in their lifetime.
What is Mecca?
In 622, Muhammad moved from Mecca to this city to serve as its arbiter. The inhabitants of this city changed its name to Medina in his honor.
What is Yathrib?
This caliph was known for his military prowess and commanded the Muslims during the Crusades.
Who was Saladin?
This is the type of mathematics invented by Muhammad ibn Musa al-Khwarizmi, which enabled the next 1,000 years of scientific discovery. (Hint: we also derive the word "algorithm" from al-Khwarizmi's name!)
What is algebra?
These two groups of Muslims disagreed over who should serve as caliph, and fought one another in the Islamic Civil War.
Who are Shi'ite and Sunni Muslims?
This word describes a religion that worships a single god. Muslims, for example, worship only Allah, and recognize Muhammad as Allah's last prophet.
What is monotheism/monotheistic?
At the age of five, Muhammad moved back to this city and away from his foster family in the desert.
What is Mecca?
This caliph was the leader of the Sunni Muslims during the Islamic Civil War, and founded the Umayyad caliphate.
Who was Muawiyah?
This holy city is home to the Dome of the Rock, a Muslim shrine built during the Umayyad caliphate.
What is Jerusalem?
This dynasty, founded by Muawiyah, controlled the Islamic Empire for nearly 100 years after the Islamic Civil War.
Who were the Umayyads?
This was the name given to Muhammad's successors, who led the religion of Islam and governed the Islamic empire at the same time.
What is a caliph?
These were the three relatives of Muhammad who had died by the time he reached the age of eight. (You MUST name all three!)
Who were Muhammad's father (before he was born), his mother (shortly after moving back to Mecca), and his grandfather (with whom he lived after his mother died)?
This caliph was accused of nepotism, or favoring his own family or clan by giving them special government positions. His assassination in 656 led to the start of the Islamic Civil War.
Who was Uthman?
These were the three special kinds of arches used in Islamic architecture. (You MUST name all three!)
What are pointed arches, double arches, and ogee arches?
These highly skilled Muslim soldiers fought on behalf of caliphs during the Crusades.
Who were the Mamluks?
This caliph codified the final, "official" written version of the Qu'ran during his reign.
Who was Uthman?
This was the relative for whom Muhammad worked as a camel boy starting at eight years old. Muhammad earned a reputation for integrity, and he eventually became a merchant and this relative's closest advisor.
Who was Muhammad's uncle?
This caliph, who was caliph during the battle of Yarmouk, began the practice of collecting taxes to aid the poor.
Who was Umar?
This book was written by Ibn Sina and contained all of the major medical achievements and practices of its time.
What is The Canon of Medicine?
He was the Byzantine general who fought against the Muslims at the Battle of Yarmouk in 636.
Who was General Vahan?