U6 History (not connected)

Ibn Khaldun

Ibn Khaldun

Most important Muslim historian who wrote the Muqaddimah about how history is a cycle of rising and falling empires (similar to Thucydides)

Omar Khayyam

Astronomer, mathematician, philosopher, and poet, wrote commentary on Euclid’s Geometry and produced foundations for non- Euclidean geometry, wrote the Rubaiyat (most significant work of Islamic poetry)

Al-Razi

Studied medicine and alchemy, first to propose pediatrics as a separate field of medicine.

Ibn Rushd

Philosopher whose commentary on Aristotle influenced Thomas Aquinas in the connections between religion and philosophy.

Ibn Sina

Was a doctor and philosopher who wrote the Canon of Medicine influencing work in Medieval universities.

Al Khwarizmi

Mathematician and Scientist (Specifically astronomy), most known for Kitab al- Jabr that was the Foundation of Algebra (Father of Algebra), also produced precise astronomical calculations.

Hajj

Part of the 5 Pillars of Islam, Muslims are required to make a pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in their life.

Zakat

Part of the 5 Pillars of Islam, Giving part of your income to the poor

Shahada

Part of the 5 Pillars of Islam, A profession of beliefs that state there is only one true god and Muhammad is his final prophet

Salat

Part of the 5 Pillars of Islam, One must pray five times a day while facing Mecca

Sawm

Part of the 5 Pillars of Islam, Don’t eat and drink during daylight hours during Ramadan

Allah

The Muslim name for God

Quran

A collection of Muhammad's revelations from the angel Gabriel compiled by his followers

Muhammad

The founder of Islam who claimed to be God’s final prophet and received revelations from the Angel Gabriel. He established the Kaaba at Mecca, the holiest site in Islam.

Arabs

A semitic people who lived by farming and herding in tribes that were led by a sheikh. They recognized a polytheistic religion.

Caliph

Ruler of the Caliphate who was seen as the political successor of Muhammad

Caliphate

The political and religious state of Muslims and their lands

Jizya

A tax that was imposed on Jews and Christians during the Umayyad Empire

Rashidun Caliphate

Defeated the Byzantine and Persian Empires and expanded through Syria, the Palestine, Egypt, and Persia. First caliphate after the death of Muhammad.

Umayyad Caliphate

Muawiyah ‘s revolt led to this a hereditary caliphate who’s capital was in Damascus. They gained control of the Maghreb and Spain

Sunni

One main branch of Islam who believes that Abu Bakr was rightful caliph as Muhammad left no successor

Shia

One main branch of Islam who believes that Ali was left as Muhammad’s successor and Abu Bakr wasn’t a legitimate caliph. Has an amended Shahada

Abu Bakr

The first caliph after Muhammad’s death who beat Ali in a contested election

Umar Ibn Al-Khattab

Second caliph who beat Ali and died in Persia on a military conquest

Uthman Ibn Affan

Third caliph who was assassinated by a group of Shia rebels

Ali Ibn Abi Talib

Fourth caliph whose election was under suspicion due to assassinations which led to the First Arab Civil War

Muawiyah

One of Ali’s generals who led a revolt against him due to suspicions about Ali’s legitimacy leading to the First Arab Civil War and the Umayyad Caliphate

Harun Al-Rashid

Founder of “The House of Wisdom” a great library founded as Baghdad grew into a center of learning

Abbasid Caliphate

Undermined the previous caliphate through propaganda about a need for power and this caliphate was marked with great literary expansion and the Islamic Golden Age. Offered greater inclusion to non-Arab Muslims. Fell due to internal division and invasion of the Mongols

House of Wisdom

Great library of Baghdad, was a center of intellectual exchange of scholars from all over the medieval world.

Translation Movement

Promoted by Harun al-Rashid trying to translate all the great books into Arabic became the reason for conquests

Astrolabe

A handheld device that could be used to find the time, your location, and astronomical features, used for calculating when to plant, when to pay taxes, and when to say your prayers (with the direction of Mecca).