History Muslim Empires Test Prep

modern era

present/recent time

origin story

narrative abt the beginning of the Universe and humanity

scale

degree/extent/lvl of sum

cities

large towns

st8s

nation/territory considered as an organized political community under 1 government

kingdom

country that is ruled by king/queen

chiefdom

territory/st8 ruled by chief

confederation

group of nations/ppls joined tg in alliance/league

city-st8

self gov st8 made of a city and its surrounding territory

claim

assertion/statement that sum is true

claim tester

important analytical process for assessing quality/truthfulness of claims

intuition

power of knowing/apprehending sum directly, w/o learning it consciously/submitting it to processes of logic

evidence

knowledge on which to base belief & constitutes proof of sum

logic

reasoning/study of reasoning

authority

right/power/ability to give orders/make decisions/demand/compel obedience

contextualization

to put into a context/provide a context for

frame

particular lense/perspective that sum is perceived through

Hinduism

Indian religion/dharma, religious & universal order/way of life by which followers abide

Judaism

 Abrahamic, monotheistic, ethnic religion of Jewish people

Buddhism

religion founded in 6th century B.C. by Buddha and widespread in Asia, that teaches release from the self and from one's earthly desires

Christianity

Abrahamic monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus

hajj

pilgrimage to Mecca that every Muslim is expected to make at least once, especially during Ramadan

caliph

in Islam, a spiritual & political leader in some Muslim countries

caliphate

st8 ruled by caliph

Rashidun

caliphate that ruled for abt 30 yrs

Umyyad

caliphate that ruled for abt 100 yrs

Abbasid

caliphate that ruled for abt 500 yrs

empire

single political unit w 1 supreme ruler composed of an aggregate of nations/peoples

sultan

ruler of Islamic country, 1st gov authority position

sultanate

area/domain ruled by sultan

grand vizier

gov authority position right below sultan, only person who can talk to/see sultan

imperial council

gov authority position right below grand vizier

Ulema

a single political unit, with one supreme ruler, composed of an aggregate of nations or peoples

Janissary

a single political unit, with one supreme ruler, composed of an aggregate of nations or peoples

Byzantine Empire

former Roman empire replaced by Ottoman Empire as major power in Eastern Mediterranean

zamandir

local tax collector for mogul empire

jizya

per capita yearly taxation historically levied in the form of financial charge on dhimmis; permanent non-Muslim subjects of a st8 gov by Islamic law

tanzimat

series of strict laws to encourage equality, new freedoms, and loyalty among their subjects

jihad

highly negative term in the USA meaning “conquest in the name of Islam”

Sunni

those who believed the rightful successor was Muhammad’s father-in-law; Abu Bakr (80% of ppl today)

Shi’ a

those who believed the rightful successor was Muhammad’s blood cousin/son in law; Ali (contraction of shiaat Ali)

orthodoxy

community of Orthodox Jews/Orthodox Christians

nationalism

advocacy/support for the political independence of a particular nation/ppl

sect

group/party within & often at odds with a larger organization

Hinduism origin place

India

Buddhism origin place

India

Judaism origin place

Israel/Palestine

Christianity origin place

Israel/Palestine

Islam origin place

Saudi Arabia

Hinduism current majority location

India

Buddhism current majority location

China

Judaism current majority location

Israel

Christianity current majority location

United States

Islam current majority location

North/Central Africa, the Middle East, & Southeast Asia

Ottoman Empire present day location

Turkey

Safavid Empire present day location

Iran

Mogul Empire present day location

Pakistan, Afghanistan, and India

Mecca location

Arabia/Arabian Peninsula/Saudi Arabia

Constantinople/Istanbul location

Turkey

Baghdad location

Iraq

claim testing example 1

There is life in outer space.

* Yes: logically bc of lots of stuff likely, evidence - spaceships, gov’t employee 1st hand account authority
* No: religious belief, logical Lack of life conditions, lack of evidence
* Idk: both sides possible

claim testing example 2

The presidential election was stolen.

* Yes: authority, negative view of opposing authority, gut feeling
* No: untrustworthy authority claim, gut feeling, parent’s opinion, court says false
* Idk: unclear authority respect, lack of info/understanding, don’t know/don’t care

claim testing example 3

The US constitution supports a right to privacy.

* Yes: written/implied
* No: no relation to today’s privacy 
* Idk: unaware of constitution

claim testing example 4

There is a Heaven and a Hell (after death).

* Yes: religion, gut feeling, authority
* No: no evidence
* Idk: nb fr knows

four claim testers

intuition, evidence, authority, logic

Judaism key ideas

* Hebrews would have only 1 God, therefore they would be awarded the promised land (Palestine)
* 10 Commandments: (laws given by Yahweh that must be followed)

1) no other Gods b4 me

2) dont worship idols

3) dont use Lord’s name in vain

4) keep Sabbath holy

5) honor parents

6) no murder

7) no adultery

8) no stealing

9) dont lie to neighbor

10) dont covet

Christianity key ideas

* Jesus Christ is the Son of God (Messiah - chosen to spread God’s word)
* love God above all other spirits and people
* love others as you love yourself
* salvation: opportunity to be forgiven for your sins
* 10 Commandments: (influnced by Judaism)

1) no other Gods b4 me

2) dont worship idols

3) dont use Lord’s name in vain

4) keep Sabbath holy

5) honor parents

6) no murder

7) no adultery

8) no stealing

9) dont lie to neighbor

10) dont covet

Hinduism key ideas

* Brahman: all-powerful spiritual force of Hinduism
* Atman: soul; essence of Brahman within every living thing
* Reincarnation: soul rebirth
* Karma: consequences based on actions; determines society place when reincarnated
* Moksha: life goal; to realease the soul from reincarnation cycle and become one with Brahman

Buddhism key ideas

* reach Nirvana (understanding Buddha’s teachings)
* understand 4 Noble Truths & Eightfold Path

4 Noble Truths:

1) all human life contains suffering

2) desire leads to suffering

3) end suffering by overcoming desire

4) overcome desire & achieve enlightenment by following Eightfold Path
* reincarnation: rebirth results from attachment (karma)

Islam key ideas

5 Pillars of Faith: laws that Muslims must follow


1. pray 5 times a day toward Mecca
2. give charity to the poor
3. fast during Ramadan (religious holiday)
4. reaffirm your faith
5. hajj

Major idea of the danger of a single story

1 perspective limits understanding

Abraham is the father of ??

faith

Prince Siddhartha Gautama

the Buddha, 563-483 BCE, he gave up his privelege and tried to live a life; Buddhism

religion’s role in gov

can influence policies/laws/governance which impacts social & cultural aspects of a society

geographically biggest empires from biggest to smallest

ottoman, mogul, safavid

2 largest islam sects

sunni (80%) & shi’a (20%)

trade’s role in the muslim empires

crucial for economic growth & cultural exchange, facilitated spread of goods/ideas/tech across vast regions, trade routes like the Silk Road and Indian Ocean connected the Muslim empires to other civilizations, fostering economic prosperity & cultural diversity

empire that followed shi’a islam; everyone had to convert

safavid

why was safavid in conflict w ottoman

both leaders claimed caliphal authority; they fought over territory & religious law

which empires were gunpowder empires

all; mogul, safavid, ottoman

1453 major event

ottomans conquered constantinople

how and where Islam united and/or divided empires

united empires through spread of common faith/Arabic language/Islamic law, it divided empires when different sects emerged (ex. Sunni and Shi’a) which lead to conflicts/power struggles

Jesus

Son of God, the Messiah, 3 BCE to 29 CE, preached of a kingdom of eternal happiness in an after life; Christianity

Muhammed

the Prophet, 570-632 CE, lived in Arabia, heavily influenced by Christian/Jewish ideas; Islam

uniting force that brought Persia tg as one cultural ppl

Shi’a Islam

Osman

ruled for abt 30 yrs, Northwest Anatolian peninsula, founder of Empire

Mehmet II

ruled for abt 30 yrs, Capture of Constantinople (1453), rule of the Balkans and the Anatolian Peninsula

Babur

Mogul founder, a “military adventurer” who inherited a small empire and advanced to take Kabul and Delhi (ruled 1504-1530), w small forces but excellent artillery

Shah Ismail

founded Safavid empire in 1501

Suleyman I

ruled for abt 40 yrs, Rule of Hungary, part of Austria, Eastern Mediterranean

Akbar

Babur’s grandson, greatly extended Mogul Empire into India

empire that united an almost entirely Hindu population into Islam in Inda

Mogul

how did Mogul Empire make money

tax, trade, administrative business system

Aurangzeb

had his brother & rival put to death, imprisoned his father, named himself Emperor in 1658, forbade suttee/certain taxes/drinking, forced Hindus to convert to Islam, his decrees led to divisions in the Empire & left it vulnerable to attack (1st by Persian Safavids, 2nd by encroachment of French & British merchants)