Dar al-Islam + Arabia

Bedouin

Nomadic Arab herders; tribal structure shaped early Islamic culture

Mecca

Holy city of Islam; birthplace of Muhammad; location of the Kaaba; major pre-Islamic trade and religious center.

Kaaba

Sacred shrine in Mecca; originally polytheistic; rededicated to Allah by Muhammad.

Muhammad

Founder of Islam; believed to be the final prophet; received revelations recorded in the Qur’an.

Qur’an

Holy book of Islam; revelations of Muhammad.

Five Pillars of Islam

Core beliefs/practices: Faith, prayer, almsgiving, fasting during Ramadan, pilgrimage (Hajj).

Hajj

Pilgrimage to Mecca; one of the Five Pillars.

Umma

Community of Muslim believers; replaced tribal divisions.

Caliph

Successor to Muhammad; political and religious leader of Islamic world.

Sunni vs. Shia

Split over leadership: Sunnis supported elected caliphs; Shia supported leadership staying in Muhammad’s family (Ali).

Umayyad Caliphate

First Islamic empire after the Rightly Guided Caliphs; capital in Damascus; expanded rapidly; favored Arab elites.

Abbasid Caliphate

Golden Age of Islam; capital in Baghdad; major achievements in math, science, medicine, literature, and trade.