Islam Golden Age TEST

Bedouin

Nomadic Arab people who traditionally inhabited the desert regions of North Africa and the Arabian Peninsula, known for their herding and trading.

Nomadic

tribes characterized by migration for grazing and trade.

Muhammad

The founder of Islam, regarded by Muslims as the last prophet, who received revelations from God through the angel Gabriel.

Kaaba

A sacred shrine in Mecca, believed to be the house of God, towards which Muslims direct their prayers.

5 Pillars

The fundamental acts of worship and practice that are central to Islam, including faith, prayer, almsgiving, fasting, and pilgrimage.

Hajj

The pilgrimage to Mecca that every Muslim must undertake at least once in their lifetime if physically and financially able. It is performed during the Islamic month of Dhu al-Hijjah and includes specific rituals.

Caliph

The head of state in a caliphate, regarded as a successor to the Prophet Muhammad and responsible for the political and religious leadership of the Muslim community.

Battle of Tours

A significant battle fought in 732 near Tours, France, where Frankish leader Charles Martel defeated an invading Muslim army. This victory halted the northward expansion of Islam into Western Europe.

“People of the Book”

A term used in Islam to refer to Jews and Christians, recognizing them as recipients of earlier divine revelations and affording them a special status within Islamic teachings.

Umayyads

A dynasty that ruled the Islamic caliphate from 661 to 750, known for its expansion and establishment of Arabic as the administrative language.

Abbasid Dynasty

ruling family that moved the capital to Bagdad, set up a banking system and overthrew the Umayyads.

Baghdad

Capital city of Abbasid Dynasty, home of House of Wisdom. Golden age city. 

House of Wisdom

massive library, translation center, and academy in Baghdad, Iraq, that served as the main intellectual hub of the Islamic Golden Age.

Aniconic

forbidding the use of human or animal images, especially when representing God or holy figures in art and religion.

Sunni

Their defining belief is that leadership of the Muslim community is the most capable person, does not need to be a direct bloodline

Shia

believe that religious and spiritual leadership must stay within the family bloodline of the Prophet Muhammad.

Jihad

literally means "struggle" or "striving."