APWH 1.2 THIRD EDITION

Abbasid Caliphate (750–1258)

Islamic dynasty that faced decline due to Seljuk Turks taking political power, Crusades capturing Jerusalem, and Mongols destroying Baghdad in 1258, ending their rule.

Seljuk Turks

11th-century Turkic group that reduced Abbasid caliphs to religious figureheads by seizing political control.

Crusades (1095–1291)

European Christian campaigns against Muslim lands, briefly capturing Jerusalem, impacting Islamic states.

Mongol Invasion (1258)

Destruction of Baghdad by Mongols, marking the end of Abbasid rule.

Mamluk Sultanate (1250–1517)

Turkic slave-soldiers in Egypt who overthrew rulers, controlled sugar/cotton trade, but declined due to Portuguese sea routes bypassing their trade networks.

Delhi Sultanate (1206–1526)

Turkic Muslim regime in North India that introduced Persian culture and spread Islam.

Al-Andalus (Islamic Spain)

Umayyad-ruled region in Spain, centered in Córdoba, a hub of learning with scholars like Ibn Rushd; defeated at Battle of Tours (732), ruled until 1492.

Battle of Tours (732)

Frankish victory halting Muslim expansion in Europe, significant for Al-Andalus.

Baghdad’s Decline

Economic weakening of Baghdad due to northward shift in Silk Road trade routes.

Dhows

Arab and Indian ships that enhanced Indian Ocean trade, spreading goods and ideas.

House of Wisdom

Baghdad-based center for translating Greek, Indian, and Chinese texts, fostering intellectual growth.

Al-Tusi

Islamic scholar who advanced astronomy and trigonometry.

Ibn Khaldun

Islamic scholar who founded historiography and sociology.

‘A’ishah al-Ba’uniyyah

Prolific Sufi poet known for mystical Islamic writings.

Sufism

Mystical branch of Islam emphasizing introspection, adapting to local cultures like Hindu-Islamic blends in India.

Slavery in Islamic Societies

Practice of enslaving non-Muslims (e.g., Africans, Slavs), with many freed after conversion to Islam.

Women’s Rights in Islam

Muslim women could inherit property, initiate divorce, and practice birth control, but faced limitations like testimony worth half a man’s in court.

Muhammad’s Reforms

Banned female infanticide and ensured dowries went directly to brides.

Veiling and Harems

Practices like hijab and harems became common in urban Islamic societies, limiting women’s public roles.

People of the Book

Jews and Christians in Islamic lands who paid jizya tax but were protected and allowed to practice their faith.

Jizya

Tax paid by Jews and Christians in Islamic states for protection and religious freedom.

Al-Andalus Coexistence

Muslims, Jews, and Christians in Islamic Spain shared knowledge, with figures like Maimonides influencing Christian scholars like Aquinas.