Untitled Flashcard Set

Hadith

Sayings/actions of Muhammad; clarified Qur’an; foundation for Islamic law.

Sharia

Comprehensive Islamic law covering religion, family, trade, and justice.

Zanj

East African slaves in Iraq; their rebellion (869–883) showed reliance on slavery.

Mawali

Non-Arab converts; excluded under Umayyads, included under Abbasids.

Umma

Global Muslim community; unified diverse peoples.

Dhimmi

“People of the Book” (Jews, Christians, Zoroastrians); tolerated but taxed.

Jizya

Tax on non-Muslims; revenue source and conversion incentive.

Arabic

Language of the Qur’an, trade, scholarship, and government.

Persian

Court language, poetry, literature used in Islamic culture.

Mongols

Group that destroyed Baghdad in 1258 CE, ending Abbasid political power.

Women in Islam

Gained inheritance, property ownership, dowries, and divorce rights compared to Bedouins.

Abbasid Economy

Relied on agriculture, industry, and controlling trade networks across multiple regions.

Harun al-Rashid

Rule marked the Abbasid Golden Age; Baghdad became the center of trade and learning.

Seljuk Turks

Nomadic Muslims who controlled Abbasid government and reduced caliphs to figureheads.

Crusades effects

Boosted European knowledge and trade but increased hostility between cultures.

Islamic Merchants

Controlled global trade networks, spreading goods and technologies across regions.

Sufis

Focused on personal devotion and spirituality; adapted Islam to local customs for conversion.

Muslim Spain (al-Andalus)

Hub of trade and scholarship that blended Islamic, Christian, and Jewish cultures.

Delhi Sultanate

Muslim rule in northern India that blended cultures and faced tensions with Hindu majority.