Rise and Fall of the Caliphates

Vocabulary flashcards covering key people, places, dynasties, and concepts from the Rise and Fall of the Caliphates lecture notes.

Caliphate

A Muslim political-religious state led by a caliph, combining religious authority with political leadership.

Umayyad Caliphate

Early major Islamic dynasty (c. 661–750 CE) with Damascus as the capital; expanded beyond Arabia and into Iberia (Al-Andalus).

Abbasid Caliphate

Islamic empire (750–1258 CE) with its capital at Baghdad; known as the golden age of Islamic culture due to peace, stability, and economic unity.

Baghdad

Capital of the Abbasid Caliphate; a cosmopolitan center famous for the translation movement and cultural flourishing.

Damascus

Capital of the Umayyad Caliphate and the early seat of government before the Abbasids.

Al‑Andalus

Islamic Iberia; the portion of the Iberian Peninsula ruled by Muslims, with Caliphate claims arising in 929.

Cordoba

Major city in Al‑Andalus; capital of the Islamic rule in Iberia and a hub of culture and learning.

Seville

Important city in Muslim Spain (Al‑Andalus).

Fatimids

Egyptian caliphate (908–1171) that founded Cairo; economy based on gold from Africa.

Cairo

Capital city founded by the Fatimids; major center of trade and learning in Egypt.

Idrisids

Early North African Muslim dynasty in Ifriqiyah (Qayrawan) founded by Idris I.

Ifriqiyah

North Africa region (roughly modern Tunisia) home to the Idrisids and Fatimids.

Qayrawan

City of Kairouan in modern Tunisia; capital of the Idrisid dynasty.

Transoxiana

Central Asian region east of the Oxus (Amu Darya); included major Islamic centers like Marw and Balkh.

Umayyads of Spain

Branch of the Umayyad Caliphate ruling in Iberia; Al‑Andalus rulers claimed caliphate in 929.

Abbasid Achievements

Adoption of Sasanian ceremonial; capital moved to Baghdad; Aristotle translated into Arabic; paper from China; expansion of literature.

Astrolabe

Invention by Arabs to tell time and determine latitude using star positions; became essential for navigation by 1492.

Ulama

Religious scholars who trained to teach and interpret Islam; helped standardize practice and law.

Imam

Teacher or leader in Islam who guides religious instruction and practice.

Hadith

Collections of Muhammad’s sayings and actions used to standardize Muslim practices.

Madrasa

Islamic school for religious and secular learning.

Sharia

The codified law of Islam, outlining rules for the Muslim community (Umma) based on Qur’an and Hadith.

Sufism

Mystical branch of Islam focusing on direct experience of God, often spreading Islam through poetry and devotion.

Mamluks

Turkish military slaves who rose to political power; their slave status ('owned') linked to revolts that shaped Abbasid politics.

Seljuk Turks

Turkish confederation that used cavalry to defeat Abbasids, captured Baghdad in 1055, and fought Byzantines; pivotal in 11th‑century Islam.

Manzikert

Battle of 1071 in which Seljuk Turks defeated the Byzantines, enabling greater Turkish influence in Anatolia.

Ottoman Empire

Turkish empire that eventually conquered Constantinople in 1453, consolidating control over Anatolia and beyond.

Abbasid Decline

Period roughly 850–1050 when imperial reach weakened: large‑scale governance was hard, revolts spread, and communications slowed (e.g., news to Baghdad took weeks).