Honors World History - The Islamic World

Who were the Bedouins?

12 Nomadic desert Arabs that shared a common culture and language.

Why was there warfare among the Bedouins?

Competition for water and grazing land

What was Muhammad's background?

Merchant from Mecca from the Hashimite clan of the ruling Quraysh tribe.

How did Muhammad start a religion and what were its roots?

Muhammad was supposedly visited by the Angel Gabriel in 610 calling him to be the messenger of God. He fled Mecca to Medina after being threatened by merchants in 622. This event, the hijra, marks the beginning of Islam.

When and how did Muhammad conquer Mecca and what did he do after?

Muhammad converted the people of Medina to Islam. From there, he led an army to conquer Mecca in 630. He then removed the pagan idols from the Ka'ba, an important place of worship later in the Islam religion.

What are the central beliefs of Islam?

Allah (God) is all powerful and compassionate, but people are responsible for their own actions. Abraham, Moses, and Jesus are all considered prophets. Muhammad is also considered a prophet, but he is considered the last and most important.

What is the Qur'an?

Essentially Islam's version of the Bible. It is considered to be the Word of God revealed to Muhammad and instructs Muslims to respect Jews and Christians (people of the book). This is because all three share roots in Abraham. This book is supposed to be read in Arabic, which unified Muslims.

What are the five pillars of Islam?

Confession of Faith, Five Prayers per day facing Mecca, Charity to the poor, fasting during Ramadan, and a pilgrimage to Mecca.

What is the Sunna?

The sayings and actions of Muhammad regarding correct belief or behavior. Is considered the second most important source of Muslim law.

What is the Shari'a?

A system of laws based on the Sunna, it applies Islamic principles to everyday behavior. It has many varying views and interpretations, so therefore not all Muslims view it the same way.

What is the Islamic view on women?

Men and women are equal spiritually but have varying roles socially. Women were educated and taught to read (so they could read the Qur'an), however. In time, Islam adopts certain customs from other cultures (veils, etc.).

What is a jihad?

In traditional Islam, a spiritual or military struggle, or "holy war". Today its meaning has been twisted and has become a term used to classify (and even justify) terrorist attacks like 9/11.

Who were Moors?

Muslim conquerors of Spain.

Who was the first caliph?

Abu Bakr

Who was the second caliph?

Umar

Who was the third caliph and what happened to him?

Uthman. He was murdered.

What were caliphates?

Dynasties that rapidly conquered new land and united them through Islam.

What was the Sunni view on caliphs?

They should be chosen by Muslim leader and not viewed as a religious authority

What was the Shi'a view on caliphs?

Believed that only the descendants of Muhammad's son-in-law Ali should be his successors

The (Shi'ites/Sunni) believed that only an Imam can interpret the Qur'an.

Shi'ites

What were the two largest construction works under the Umayyad caliphate?

Great Mosque of Damascus, Dome of the Rock (Jerusalem)

What were some accomplishments of the Abbasid caliphate?

Banking, Education (libraries, universities), various branches of science (medicine, astronomy, chemistry), navigation techniques, City of Baghdad, also al-Khwarizmi literally invented algebra

What caused the Abbadid decline and fall?

Revolts, states declared independence, the Turks, the Crusades, the Mongols, the burning of Baghdad

Who were the Mamluks?

Originally slaves kidnapped as boys and trained to fight in the Ayyubid army. They captured Louis IX during the seventh Crusade. Eventually this practice really backfires on the slave owners.

What was the Soninke empire?

The first major West African kingdom; controlled most gold and salt routes. Also known as Ghana.

What was the title for kings in the Mali kingdom?

Mansa

What was the Mali kingdom?

A kingdom that replaced Ghana after its fall around 1050. Took control of gold mining and the gold-salt trade. Centered around Timbuktu, its cultural and learning center.

Who converted the Mali kingdom to Islam?

Mansa Musa

What was the Songhai empire and what were its accomplishments?

This empire took the place of Mali when it inevitably fell. It created stronger ties with the Muslim world, became wealthy from trade, and made Timbuktu center of culture and Islamic scholarship.

Who were the Yoruba?

A people that established several strong kingdoms along coasts, forests, and lagoons. Known for terracotta sculptures, as well as skills with crafting with bronze, brass, and copper.

What was the Yoruba title for king?

Oni

Who were the Hausa?

A people who lived in independent, walled city-states in West Africa. They dominated the Sahara trade routes, and were known for their expertise in trading as well as skills in weaving and dyeing.

What was the Benin kingdom?

A powerful kingdom that traded with Portugal and was known for artwork in bronze and ivory.

What was the Benin title for king?

Oba

What is the Kongo kingdom?

A kingdom that lasted from the 7th to 19th century (a long time!). They dominated in Central African trade and were allies with the Portuguese beginning in the 15th century. Primarily practiced Catholicism

Who were the Bantu?

West African farmers speaking the Bantu language that migrated south- and eastward to farm between 3000 and 2000 BC

What other peoples were East African kingdoms connected to?

Phoenicians, Greeks, Romans

What were some popular trade networks in East Africa?

Networks through Sahara Desert toward West Africa, Indian Ocean trade networks by 1st century BC

What was the Kingdom of Axum?

An East-African naval power that controlled most trade between Africa, India, and the Mediterranean.

Who converted the Axum people to Orthodox Christianity and when?

King Ezana, 4th century

What was the language of Axum?

Ge'ez

Who was the Queen of Sheba and what is the legend surrounding her?

A queen who ruled over Ethiopia and Egypt. According to East African legend, she had a son with King Solomon of Israel. When her son visited his father in Israel, he took the Ark of the Covenant back with him.

What were the two dynasties of the Kingdom of Ethiopia?

The Zagwe Dynasty, later overthrown by Solomonid Dynasty.

What was the Ethiopian king King Lalibela known for?

Churches carved into rock

What were the Swahili Trading States?

A collection of city-states in East Africa that used monsoon winds as fast transport between East Africa and India and Asia.

What were the leading city-states among the Swahili Trading States?

Mogadishu, Mombasa, Kilwa, Sofala, Zanzibar

What were griots?

West-African professional storytellers