Topic 8 (Islam/Late Middle Ages)

Muhammad

Prophet of Islam, born an orphan in Mecca and worked as a merchant. Believed to have received teachings from the one true God

Quran

the sacred writings of Islam revealed by God to the prophet Muhammad.

Five Pillars

beliefs that all Muslims needed to carry out: Faith, Prayer, Charity, Fasting, and Pilgrimage

Mosque

Muslim place of worship

Mecca

City in western Arabia, birthplace of the Prophet Muhammad and ritual center of the Islamic religion.

Hajj

A pilgrimage to Mecca, performed as a duty by Muslims

Sunni

A branch of Islam whose members acknowledge the first four caliphs as the rightful successors of Muhammad

Shiite

The branch of Islam that holds that the leader of Islam must be a descendant of Muhammad's family

Imams

Shiite religious leaders who traced their descent to Ali's successors.

Sharia

Body of Islamic law that includes interpretation of the Quran and applies Islamic principles to everyday life

Umayyads

A dynasty that ruled the Muslim Empire from 661 to 750, growing Muslim influence into N. Africa and W. Europe

Abbasids

A dynasty that ruled much of the Muslim Empire from 750 to about 1250, refocusing attention to the Middle East and relocating a large capitol in Baghdad.

Battle of Tours

European armies defeat Muslim armies and stop the spread of Islam in Europe

calligraphy

art of beautiful handwriting

Crusades

A series of holy wars undertaken by European Christians to retake the Holy Land from Muslim rule.

Holy Land

Jerusalem and other places in Palestine where Christians believe Jesus had lived and preached

Saladin

Powerful Muslim ruler during Third Crusade, defeated Christians and recaptured Jerusalem for Muslims.

Reconquista

The effort by Christian leaders to drive the Muslims out of Spain

Bubonic Plague

disease brought to Europe during the Middle Ages. It killed 1/3 of the population

Hundred Years War

Series of battles over control of the throne of France, involving English and French royal families and French noble families.

Longbow

A very useful weapon in the Hundred Years' War, English archers were able to fire 6 arrows a minute with enough force to pierce a inch of wood

Joan of Arc

French peasant inspired by religious visions to organize French resistance to the English. Led military victories inspiring the French.

Mansa Musa

ruler of the kingdom of Mali in Africa. He made a famous pilgrimage to Mecca uniting Muslims and establishing trade routes between Africa and the Middle East.

Mali

empire that flourished in west Africa during the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries. The empire controlled African trade routes and center for Islamic learning. During its peak ruled by Mansa Musa.

Ghana

empire of western Africa from seventh to thirteenth century located at the confluence of the Niger and Senegal rivers. Known for controlling the Salt and Gold trade during Medieval Ages.