Islam

Jahiliyyah

The pre-Islamic period referred to as 'The Age of Ignorance' by Arabic historians.

Byzantine Empire

The empire that controlled parts of the Levant and northern Arabia before the rise of Islam.

Caliphate

A form of Islamic government led by a Caliph, traditionally viewed as the political and religious successor to the Prophet Muhammad.

Ummah

An Arabic term meaning 'community', referring to the collective community of Islamic peoples.

Jihad

An Arabic word meaning 'struggle' or 'striving', often used to describe the religious duty of Muslims to maintain their faith.

Rashidun Caliphs

The first four successors of Muhammad, recognized for their close companionship with him and their role in expanding the Islamic state.

Abbasid Caliphate

An Islamic dynasty that ruled from 750 to 1258 CE, known for a golden age of cultural, economic, and scientific advancements.

Fubing system

A military strategy of the Tang dynasty that blended the roles of farmer and soldier to maintain a large and effective military force.

Civil Service Examination

A competitive examination system in Tang China that aimed to select talented civil servants based on merit.

Nestorianism

A Christian sect that recognized Jesus as both divine and human, which made its way into Tang China during this period.

Daoism

A religious and philosophical tradition from China emphasizing living in harmony with the Dao, which is the fundamental principle that is the source of all existence.

Charlemagne

A Frankish king who became the Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire and was known for his role in the Carolingian Renaissance.

Abu Nuwas

A famous Arab poet known for his homoerotic poetry during the Abbasid period.

Shi'a

One of the two major branches of Islam that believes in the leadership of Ali, the Prophet Muhammad’s cousin and son-in-law.

Sunni

The largest branch of Islam that recognizes the first four caliphs as 'rightly guided'.

Silk Road

An ancient network of trade routes that connected the East and West, crucial for cultural, commercial, and technological exchange.

Tang Dynasty

A Chinese dynasty that ruled from 618 to 907 CE, known for its cultural flourishing and imperial expansion.

Golden Age

A period of great cultural, economic, and scientific flourishing in a civilization.

Carolingian Renaissance

A period of cultural revival in the empire of Charlemagne, characterized by a renewed interest in classical learning and the arts.

Cultural Diversity

The variety of cultural or ethnic groups within a society.

Islamic Expansion

The rapid spread of Islam and Muslim rule throughout the Middle East, North Africa, and parts of Europe after the death of Muhammad.

Islamic Golden Age

A period from the 8th to the 14th century characterized by significant achievements in science, culture, and economy within the Islamic world.

Al-Andalus

A historical region on the Iberian Peninsula under Muslim rule, known for its rich cultural and intellectual contributions.

Hadith

A collection of traditions and sayings of the Prophet Muhammad, used as a source of Islamic law and guidance.

Sufism

A mystical Islamic belief system that seeks to achieve direct personal experience of God through spiritual practices.

Fatimid Caliphate

A Shia Islamic caliphate that ruled over North Africa and parts of the Middle East from the 10th to the 12th century.

Koran (Qur'an)

The holy text of Islam, believed to be the word of God as revealed to Muhammad.

Rumi

A 13th-century Persian poet and Sufi mystic known for his influential poetry and teachings on love and the divine.

Ottoman Empire

A powerful empire that lasted from the late 13th century until the early 20th century, known for its cultural and architectural achievements.

House of Wisdom

A major intellectual center during the Islamic Golden Age, located in Baghdad, where scholars gathered to translate and study various sciences.

Caliphate System

A governance structure in Islam where the caliph is regarded as the political and religious leader of the Muslim community.