Vocabulary
What does the word Caravan mean?
Although travel would take months or even years, caravans and ships endlessly carried glass, cloth, and silver and gold to the East.
What empire existed in Europe before the middle ages?
The Roman Empire
What religion did Western Europe follow after the fall of the Roman Empire?
Christianity
How did people in Arabia benefit from its location?
Arabians were able to participate in trade that took place in and passed through Arabia.
In what way was Arabia diverse?
People from the East and West settled in Arabia, including Jews and Christians.
What does the word "Monotheistic" mean?
These included Christians and Jews, who believed in one god -- they were monotheistic
Believing in one god
What were the 2 main countries that we learned about last unit?
England and France --- Which are both located in Europe
Who was the founder of Islam? When was he born?
Muhammad. 100's of years after Jesus.
Why was the trade route between Europe and Asia known as the Silk Road?
Because silk from China was one of the goods that was traded
What do you think polytheistic might mean?
Believing in many gods
What does the word "arid" mean?
Life was harsh and dangerous in the arid Arabian climate, and without a regular supply of water, families could not survive and settle in one place.
Very dry
We learned about the acronym BCE what does it stand for?
Before Common Era
How much of the world’s population is Christian or Muslim?
Half of the world's population...4 Billion people
What did caravans and ships carry east, and what did they carry west?
They carried glass, cloth, and silver and gold east, and silk and spices west
What was the city of Mecca known for before the birth of Muhammad?
Mecca was known for its water well, as a center for trade, and as the home of a famous shrine used for worship by local polytheists.
What is a "shrine"
Second, Mecca held a famous shrine worshipped by the local polytheists; the Kaaba
A place people visit to remember or worship a certain god or religious figure
What is an empire
A group of nations or territories controlled by the same leader.
In our new unit we are going to be learning about Islamic Empire where the leaders are called...caliphs
While Christianity grew in power in western Europe, what new religion emerged in the East?
Islam
What two empires fought to control the taxes from trading?
The Byzantine Empire and the Persian Empire
How might the North Arabian saddle have helped Islam spread through military conquests?
The saddle allowed camels to be used for fighting. This allowed Islamic military forces to conquer other tribes and cities and convert their inhabitants to Islam.