Islamic World, Gunpowder Empires, and Early African Societies

Question and answer practice flashcards reviewing the origins and expansion of Islam, Sunni-Shi'a split, Islamic scholars and trade networks, the Ottoman, Safavid, and Mughal Empires, and early African societies.

Which two empires dominated the northern portion of the Middle East around 600 CE?

The Christian Byzantine Empire and the Zoroastrian Sassanid Persian Empire

What valuable goods were transported by independent Arab tribes along trade routes from southern Arabia and East Africa to the Byzantine and Sassanid Empires?

Frankincense and myrrh

When and where was Muhammad born, and what sacred site was located in that town?

Muhammad was born in 570 in Mecca, which hosted the Ka'ba, a major pilgrimage temple for polytheistic Arabs.

Whom did Muhammad marry, securing his financial stability before engaging in spiritual meditation?

Khadijah, a wealthy widow

According to Islamic tradition, which angel delivered God's revelations to Muhammad starting around 610?

The Angel Gabriel

What is the significance of the Dome of the Rock located on Mount Moriah in Jerusalem?

Completed in 691, it is built over the rock where Muslims believe Muhammad ascended to heaven to learn Allah's will, and where Jews believe Abraham prepared to sacrifice Isaac.

According to Islamic belief, how do the Torah, Gospels, Psalms, and Scrolls compare to the Quran?

While the Jewish and Christian holy books contain religious truth, only the Quran contains the exact words of God revealed to His final messenger, Muhammad.

What sequence of prophets leading to Muhammad is illustrated in this diagram of the prophetic tradition?

Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and Muhammad

What are the Hadith, Sunnah, and Shariah in Islamic tradition?

The Hadith and Sunnah record the words and deeds of Muhammad, while the Shariah is Islamic law compiled by scholars to regulate public and private affairs.

Why did Muhammad and his followers migrate from Mecca to Medina in 622, and what was the political and religious union formed there called?

They faced hostility in Mecca because Muhammad's message threatened its role as a polytheistic pilgrimage site; in Medina they formed the Umma.

What are the Five Pillars of Islam?

1) Belief, 2) Alms giving, 3) Prayer (five times a day facing Mecca), 4) Hajj (pilgrimage to Mecca), and 5) Fasting (during the month of Ramadan)

What is Ramadan, and how does it end?

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar during which observant Muslims fast from dawn to sunset; it ends with the festival of Eid al-Fitr.

Why does the month of Ramadan shift throughout the seasons each year?

The Islamic calendar is a lunar calendar, which is 11 to 12 days shorter than the solar year, causing Ramadan to start about 10 days earlier each year.

What is the kiswa, and what are its key materials and dimensions?

It is the cloth cover of the Kaaba replaced annually on 10th Dhul Hijjah, costing SAR 17,000,000 (~4,532,951.01 USD), made of 670 kg of silk and 150 kg of gold threads, covering 658 m^2 across 47 cloth pieces.

Which mosque built in 705-715 by Umayyad Caliph Al-Walid I is recognized as the oldest standing stone mosque?

The Umayyad Mosque (also known as the Great Mosque of Damascus)

What territory was held by the Caliphate by 661 following the first four caliphs?

All of the Arabian Peninsula, Persia, Palestine, and Egypt

Which dynasty ruled the Caliphate from 661 to 750, expanding control to North Africa, the Iberian Peninsula, and parts of Central Asia?

The Umayyad dynasty

What event in 680 deepened the split between Sunni and Shi'a Muslims?

The massacre of Hussein (second son of Ali) and his family by the Umayyad Caliph after Hussein attempted to overthrow him.

What are the key differences between Sunni and Shi'a Muslims regarding leadership and holy teachings?

Sunnis believe the first four caliphs were "rightly guided" and follow the Sunna; Shi'as believe only direct descendants of Ali and Muhammad should rule and do not recognize the authority of the Sunna.

To which city did the Abbasid Caliphate move its capital in 762, and why?

Baghdad, because its central location offered access to trade routes, gold, and information across the empire.

Who was Ibn Battuta, and what did he accomplish during his travels recorded in the Rihla?

A Moroccan explorer who traveled over 73,000 miles across 44 countries in 30 years, visiting North Africa, West Africa, the Middle East, Central Asia, South Asia, Southeast Asia, and China.

How do Ibn Battuta, Marco Polo, and Xuanzang compare in terms of nationality, travel distance, and written works?

Ibn Battuta (Moroccan/Berber, 73,000 miles, Rihla), Marco Polo (Venetian/Italian, 25,000 miles, Travels of Marco Polo), and Xuanzang (Tang China, 1,000s of miles, Journey to the West).

What two transportation innovations enhanced Indian Ocean and trans-Saharan trade routes?

The Arab dhow with a triangular lateen sail for ocean maneuverability, and Arabian camel saddles for trans-Saharan caravan security and efficiency.

Who authored the Canon of Medicine, which served as the authoritative medical text in the Middle East and Europe until the 1600s?

Ibn Sina (Avicenna)

What components comprised the astrolabe, and how did it function?

It contained a fixed "plate" (map of the sky for a specific latitude) and a rotating "rete" (simulating daily earth/star movement with pointers for stars) used to calculate time, celestial events, position, and orientation toward Mecca.

Who were the Janissaries in the Ottoman Empire?

An elite military group developed by the Ottoman Turks as they expanded west into Europe, Asia, and North Africa.

What major military and cultural achievements occurred under Ottoman Sultan Suleyman (1520-1566)?

Expansion into Romania, Hungary, and parts of Austria; dominance over the eastern Mediterranean by the Turkish naval fleet; patronage of the arts; and construction of bridges, public baths, schools, and the Suleimaniye Mosque.

According to the diagram of the Ottoman Centralized Bureaucracy, who served directly beneath the Sultan as chief minister?

The Grand Vizier

Which two key military engagements marked turning points in Ottoman expansion into Europe?

The Siege of Vienna in 1529 (where Suleyman's forces were turned back) and the Battle of Lepanto in 1571 (a major Spanish naval victory over the Ottomans).

Who founded the Safavid Empire in the 16th century, and what was its state religion?

Shah Ismail; Shi'a Islam.

Who was the founder of the Mughal dynasty in India, and to whom was he related?

Babur, who had family ties to Genghis Khan.

What is the origin and historical purpose of the Taj Mahal in Agra, India?

Built between around 1632 and 1653 by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan as a white marble mausoleum for his third wife, Mumtaz Mahal, who died giving birth to her 14th child.

Which king made Christianity the official religion of Axum, and how was it introduced?

King Ezana; the Axumites learned about Christianity from shipwrecked Syrians.

According to the provided chart, what main goods were traded by Ghana, Mali, Benin, and Songhai?

Ghana (coca, wood, gold, diamonds, manganese), Mali (livestock, peanuts, dried fish, cotton, animal skins), Benin (pepper, animal skins, ivory, slaves), and Songhai (kola nuts, gold, ivory, iron, wood, animal skins).

Who established the Mali Empire in the 13th century, and who was its most famous ruler known for his wealthy pilgrimage to Mecca in 1324?

Sundiata Keita established Mali; Mansa Musa was its richest king who distributed vast amounts of gold during his hajj.

What was the role of Griots and Griottes in West African culture?

Oral history storytellers who preserved family lineages, history, and tales of great rulers.

What are stateless societies in African history, and what is a notable example?

Societies of independent villages organized by lineage groups or clans without a central power, balancing authority so no single family held control (e.g., the Igbo/Ibo).

What is Swahili, and how did it develop?

A language (meaning "the coast") and culture that developed on the East African coast combining Bantu basics with Arabic and Persian words through trade interactions across the Indian Ocean.