Geography of Southwest Asia & North Africa
What large land area is home to the origins of Islam?
The Arabian Peninsula
Who founded Islam?
The Prophet Muhammad
What language spread with Islam?
Arabic
What will you not see in islamic art?
Who led the Ottomans to conquer Constantinople in 1453 CE?
Mehmed II (the Conqueror)
Name one sea that borders the Arabian Peninsula.
Red Sea or Arabian Sea
What is the holy book of Islam called?
The Qur’an
Through what activities did Islam spread?
Trade, travel, and conquest
What did Muslim mathematicians create that we still use today?
Algebra and Arabic numerals (0–9)
What was Constantinople renamed after it was conquered?
Istanbul
What two rivers flow through Mesopotamia (modern Iraq)?
The Tigris and Euphrates Rivers
What are the Five Pillars of Islam?
Faith, Prayer, Charity, Fasting, Pilgrimage
Name one region Islam spread to after Arabia.
North Africa, or parts of Asia
What tool did Muslim astronomers use to study the stars, tell time, and help travelers navigate?
The astrolabe
What religion did the Ottomans follow?
What city is the holiest city in Islam?
Mecca
What does “monotheism” mean?
Belief in one God
How did Islam help unite people in different areas?
Shared religion, laws, and language connected them
What is one subject Muslim scholars studied?
Medicine, art, math, or science
Why was controlling Constantinople important for the Ottomans?
It was in the center of major trade routes
Why was this region good for trade?
It connects Asia, Africa, and Europe
What is the Sunnah?
The example and teachings of Muhammad
Why did many people learn Arabic?
To read the Qur’an and for trade
What might you see in an example of Islamic art?
Beautiful colorful patterns
What happened to the Byzantine Empire after the Ottoman conquest?
It ended; the Ottomans took control