Levi's Study Guides (ISLAMIC EMPIRE)

What is the Middle East?

A region that includes Southwest Asia and part of Africa known as the birthplace of major religions.

Who is a Prophet?

A person seen as a communicator between God and the people, talking about revelations to guide them (Ex: Muhammad).

What does the term Allah mean?

The Arabic word for God, central to Islamic belief and is seen as a monotheistic god.

What is Hegira?

The migration of Muhammad (The Prophet) and his followers in 622 CE.

What are "Arabic" Numerals?

The number system (0-9) developed in India and spread to Europe through the Islamic world.

What are Arabian Nights?

A famous collection of Middle Eastern folktales, including stories like Aladdin and Sinbad the Sailor.

What does Sunni mean in the context of Islam?

The largest branch of Islam, believing that the caliph should be chosen by consensus rather than lineage.

What is Shia Islam?

A branch of Islam that believes leadership should stay within Muhammad’s family, specifically through Ali and his descendants.

Who are Dhimmis?

Non-Muslims living under Islamic rule who were granted protected status in exchange for certain obligations.

What is Jizya?

A tax that non-Muslims (dhimmis) had to pay in Islamic states in return for protection and religious freedom.

What is Sharia?

The Islamic legal code derived from the Quran, Hadiths, and scholarly interpretations, covering religious and daily life.

Who are the Ulama?

Islamic scholars who interpret religious texts and provide guidance on Islamic law and theology.

What is Sufism?

A mystical branch of Islam focused on spiritual devotion, meditation, and personal connection with God.

What is Polygyny in Islam?

A form of marriage where a man can have multiple wives, permitted under specific conditions.

What is Veiling?

The practice of Muslim women covering their hair or face, often as a sign of modesty and religious commitment.

What are Hadiths?

A collection of sayings and actions of the Prophet Muhammad, used as a key source for Islamic law and tradition.

What is Sikhism?

A monotheistic religion founded in the 15th century in India, blending elements of Islam and Hinduism.

What was Al-Andalus?

The Muslim-ruled region of Spain (711–1492), known for its cultural, scientific, and architectural advancements.

What was the Umayyad dynasty?

The first Islamic dynasty (661–750), which expanded the empire across North Africa, Spain, and Persia.

What was the Abbasid dynasty?

A powerful Islamic dynasty (750–1258) that led the Islamic Golden Age, with its capital in Baghdad.

What was the Fatimid dynasty?

A Shi’a Islamic dynasty (909–1171) that ruled parts of North Africa and the Middle East, claiming descent from Fatimah, Muhammad’s daughter.

What were the Seljuk?

A Turkish dynasty that ruled parts of the Islamic world and played a major role in the Crusades.

Who were the Mongols?

A nomadic group that invaded and destroyed the Abbasid Caliphate in 1258, establishing the Ilkhanate in Persia.

What are Emirs?

Military and political leaders in Islamic states, often governing provinces or leading armies.

What is the title of Sultan?

A title for a Muslim ruler with political and military authority, distinct from the religious role of the caliph.

What were the Third Crusades?

A military campaign (1189–1192) led by European leaders, including Richard the Lionheart, to reclaim Jerusalem from Saladin.

Who were the Mamelukes?

Slave soldiers who rose to power in Egypt and established their own ruling dynasty.

What was the Janissary Corps?

An elite Ottoman military force made up of Christian boys taken through the devshirme system and trained as soldiers.