Unit 6: Islam, Muslim Empires and African Kingdoms

Muhammad

Islam’s prophet, born in 570 AD grew up as a Shepard and a merchant was bothered by the greed of Mecca so he want out to the cave to pray and and the angel Gabriel appeared to him

Mecca

Trading city on the Arabian Peninsula

Kaaba

Pilgrims came to Mecca to pray to the pagan gods here; a temple containing idols(statues) of gods

Hijra

when Muhammad was forced to leave Mecca; Islam’s turning point

Medina

when Muhammad flees in 622AD he goes to this city; also known as Yathrib

Umayyad

a caliphate; spread Islam through northern Africa and to the Iberian peninsula (Spain); spread Islam through conquest and war

Abbasid

a caliphate; fled the Iberian Peninsula; spread Islam through cultural diffusion (trade \ achievements); Persians enter

Quran

holy book of Islam; provides a guide to life; unites all Muslims

Great Zimbabwe

they were to the south of Africa and traded with the Portuguese

Axum

east Africa (modern day Ethiopia)

Umayyad Capital

Damascus

Abbasid Capital

Baghdad

Mosque

Muslim place of worship

Haji

make pilgrimage to Mecca at least once during lifetime

Sharia

laws based on the Quran and Muhammad’s life applies religious principals to all legal situations

Sunni

Muhammad’s successor should be a male from his tribe this is not right finish it

golden age

lasted from the 8th century to the 13th century

number system

borrowed from Indian scholars; groups of ten; concept of zero

House of Wisdom

contained massive libraries, open halls for debate, taught multiple languages and preserved culture for millions; located in modern day Baghdad

Savanna

located south of the Sahara and dominates central Africa; hot, dry and diverse; zebras, lions, elephants; gets enough rain to grow grains however droughts are common

Sahara

located in northern Africa and covers 1/3 of the continent; largest desert in the world; created two regions of Africa

Axum

strong and rich Kingdom in modern day Ethiopia; King Ezana; dominated trade routes in east Africa and the Red Sea; traded with Greece, Rome, India, Egypt and Israel

Ethiopia

where Axum is located

Timbuktu

capital city of Mali

Ghana

first wealthy west African Kingdom; controlled the salt and gold trade routes; taxed traders, growing massive wealth

Mali

controlled all trade in region; Mansa Musa

Mansa Musa

was king; extremely wealthy; made pilgrimage to Mecca during which he handed out so much gold that it caused inflation

Songhai

largest of the west African Kingdoms; Emperor Askia Muhammad expanded their territory, organized government into a bureaucracy and made pilgrimage to Mecca showing strong toes with Muslim world; controlled gold and salt trade until their fall; fell to the Moroccans because of the invention of firearms

Great Zimbabwe

ruled in southern Africa from the 11th-15th centuries; controlled trade along the east coast with China, Middle East, and India; translated to “house of rock” which describes the ruined of the city these ruins suggest an organized government; deserted after soil fertility decreased

Mutapa Empire

great Zimbabwe that flocked west; mined gold, traded and interacted with the Portuguese until their collapse in 1700