Crisis and Grand Debate of Muslims

These flashcards cover key vocabulary and concepts from the lecture on the historical crisis and grand debates among Muslims.

Ibn Battuta

A 14th-century Moroccan explorer who traveled extensively across the Islamic world and beyond, covering approximately 120,000 km.

Grand Sunni Thesis

A historical narrative describing the end of the Abbasid period characterized by a shift towards Turco-Persian culture and the separation of state and religion.

Renaissance of Islam

A period in the 10th century Muslim world marked by significant advancements in history, culture, and science.

Ibn al-Haytham

An influential Arab mathematician and physicist, often referred to as the 'father of optics'.

lost enlightenment

A phrase referring to the historical period of Central Asia's significant developments from the Arab Conquest to Tamerlane.

Islamic dirham

A silver coin that was commonly used in the Islamic world and found in various regions, including Northern Europe.

Kingdom of Mali

A prominent empire in West Africa known for its wealth, trade, and cultural achievements, particularly during the 14th century.

Marco Polo

A Venetian merchant and explorer whose travels to Asia were documented in the book 'The Travels of Marco Polo'.

Zheng He

A Chinese admiral known for leading multiple maritime expeditions that expanded trade and diplomatic relations as far as East Africa.

Evolutionary geology

A scientific perspective suggesting that the Earth and its geological features have changed over time, contrasting with creationist views.

Madrasa

An educational institution in Islamic culture, traditionally teaching subjects such as law, theology, and science.

Sunni Islam

One of the two main branches of Islam, emphasizing the role of the community in interpreting the faith and following the Sunna (tradition) of the Prophet Muhammad.

Ibn Fadlan

An Arab traveler best known for his account of a mission to the Volga Bulgars in the 10th century, offering insight into Viking culture.

Hinduism in India

A major religion that had significant interactions with the Islamic world, especially through traders and cultural exchanges.

The Black Death

A devastating pandemic that struck Europe and Asia in the 14th century, killing a significant portion of the population, including Ibn Battuta's family.

Al-Ghazali

A prominent Islamic scholar and philosopher whose works influenced both theology and philosophy in the Islamic intellectual tradition.

Cultural exchange

The process by which ideas, customs, and technologies are transferred between cultures, often highlighted in historical accounts of trade and exploration.

Ibn Khaldun

A 14th-century Muslim historian and philosopher, known for his significant contributions to sociology and historiography.

Pantheism

The belief that the universe is identical with divinity, often contrasted with theistic views of a personal god.

Scientific Method

A systematic approach to inquiry that emphasizes evidence and experimentation, foundational to modern science.

Enlightenment

A philosophical movement emphasizing reason and individualism rather than tradition; notable in Western history but also had implications in Islamic thought.

Islam and Modernity

The exploration of how Islamic societies have interacted with and responded to modernity and Western influences.

Historical correspondence

Communication exchanged during historical periods which can reveal insights into cultural and intellectual practices.

Travel writing

A literary genre that describes the author's travels to a distant place, providing insight into the culture and customs of that region.

Nomadic lifestyle

A way of life characterized by moving from one place to another rather than settling permanently, often adopted by traders and herders in historical contexts.

Cosmopolitan culture

A culture that is open to and influenced by foreign ideas and practices, often seen in prosperous urban centers.

Ibn Tufayl

An Arab philosopher and author known for his work 'Hayy ibn Yaqzan,' which presents themes of philosophy and naturalism.

Social sciences

Academic disciplines that study human behavior and societies, including fields like sociology, anthropology, and psychology.

Abbasid period

A golden age of Islam from the 8th to the 13th century, known for its advancements in science, literature, and culture.

Islamic civilization

The complex societies and cultures that developed within the Islamic world from the 7th century onward.

Intellectual legacy

The lasting impact of scholars, philosophers, and cultural figures whose ideas have influenced future generations.

Trade routes

Paths followed by traders that facilitated the exchange of goods, culture, and ideas among different regions.

Cultural pluralism

A perspective recognizing and valuing multiple cultural identities within a society or group.

Philosophical discourse

The exchange of ideas concerning fundamental questions about existence, knowledge, and ethics, often seen in historical correspondence.

Religion and science

Two distinct fields that often intersect and influence each other within the context of historical and modern developments.

Plurality of worlds

The concept, discussed by early thinkers, that there may be multiple worlds or universes beyond our own, a controversial idea in historical contexts.

Bubonic plague

An infectious disease caused by Yersinia pestis, known for causing widespread outbreaks and leading to significant historical consequences.

Central Asia

A region that played a crucial role in trade and cultural exchanges between East and West during medieval times.

Patronage of the arts

Support given to artists and thinkers, often by wealthy individuals or governments, influencing the development of culture.

Travel memoirs

Accounts of personal experiences during journeys, often documenting cultural interactions and observations.

Islamic philosophy

A branch of philosophy that integrates Islamic teachings with classical philosophical ideas, significantly influencing Western thought.

Cultural synthesis

The combining of cultural elements from different traditions to create new cultural expressions and ideas.

Historical context

The circumstances and conditions surrounding events or trends in history that shape their interpretation.

Religion and politics

Interconnected aspects of society that often shape governance and social norms in various cultures.

Education in the Islamic world

The systems and institutions developed for learning and knowledge dissemination, significantly impacting cultural development.

Cultural identity

The shared characteristics and values that define a group, influenced by history, language, religion, and cultural practices.

Zoroastrianism

An ancient pre-Islamic religion of Persia that significantly influenced later religious thought, including aspects of Islam.

Mercantile practices

Methods and activities related to trade and commerce, highlighting economic interactions in history.

Taxonomy of cultures

A categorization of cultural groups based on shared traits and characteristics, often used in sociological studies.