Unit 1.2: Developments in Dar al-Islam

Flashcards covering key vocabulary and concepts related to the developments in Dar al-Islam during the period from c. 1200 to c. 1450.

Dar al-Islam

Refers to the lands under Islamic rule, encompassing diverse cultures and regions united by Islamic principles.

Abbasid Empire

An Islamic dynasty that ruled from Baghdad and fostered a golden age of intellectual and cultural exchange. Declined due to internal conflicts and external pressures.

House of Wisdom

A renowned center of learning in Baghdad under the Abbasid Empire, attracting scholars from various regions.

Mamluks

Enslaved soldiers, often of Turkic origin, who rose to power in Egypt and established the Mamluk Sultanate.

Mamluk Sultanate

An Egyptian dynasty (1250-1517) established by Mamluks, prospering through trade between the Islamic world and Europe.

Seljuk Turks

Central Asian Muslims who conquered parts of the Middle East, diminishing the power of the Abbasid caliph.

Sultan

Title taken by the Seljuk leader, reducing the Abbasid caliph to a chief Sunni religious authority.

Crusaders

European Christian soldiers who organized to reopen access to holy sites in and around Jerusalem that were limited by the Seljuk Turks.

Mongols

Central Asian conquerors who ended the Abbasid Empire in 1258 and the Seljuk rule.

Shariah

Islamic law that created similar legal systems across Islamic states.

Nasir al-Din al-Tusi

Celebrated Islamic scholar who contributed to astronomy, law, logic, ethics, mathematics, philosophy, and medicine.

'A'ishah al-Ba'uniyyah

Sufi poet and mystic, possibly the most prolific female Muslim writer before the 20th century.

Sufis

Muslims emphasizing introspection to grasp truths, often adapting to local cultures and traditions, and playing a key role in spreading Islam.

Hijab

A term referring to the practice of dressing modestly or to a specific type of covering, commonly observed by women under Islam.

Al-Andalus

The Islamic state in Spain, also known as Islamic Spain, that became a center of learning and cultural exchange.

Ibn Rushd

Averroes, a scholar from al-Andalus known for his influential works on law, secular philosophy, and the natural sciences.

Dhows

Ships with long, thin hulls developed in India or China, excellent for carrying goods in trade within the Islamic world.