06: The First Global Civilization: The Rise and Spread of Islam Flashcards
1
Q
bedouin
A
- Nomadic pastoralists of the Arabian peninsula; culture based on camel and goat nomadism; early converts to Islam.
- Beginning of Islamic culture.
- Set the basis for later Arabian civilization
2
Q
shayks
A
- Leaders of tribes and clans within bedouin society; usually men with large herds, several wives, and many children.
- Leaders of bedouin tribes
- Brought a semblance of order
3
Q
Mecca
A
- City located in mountainous region along Red Sea in Arabian peninsula; founded by Umayyad clan of Quraysh; site of Ka’ba; original home of Muhammad; location of cheif religious pilgrimage point in Islam.
- Major center of trade and birthplace of Muhammad
- Helped bring influence to Arabian culture.
4
Q
Umayyad
A
- Clan of Quraysh that dominated politics and commercial economy of Mecca; clan established dynasty as rulers of Islam, 661 to 750.
- First major clan of Arabian culture
- Influenced culture of politics of the region.
5
Q
Ka’ba
A
- Most revered religious shrine in pre-Islamic Arabia; located in Mecca; focus on obligatory annual truce among bedouin tribes; later incorporated as important shrine in Islam.
- Important religious shrine in pre-Islamic Arabia.
- Brought temporary truce between bedouin tribes.
6
Q
Medina
A
- Also known as Yathrib; town located northeast of Mecca; grew date palm whose fruit was sold to bedouins; became refuge for Muhammad following flight from Mecca (hijra).
- Trading city near Mecca.
- Where Muhammad flew to.
7
Q
Muhammad
A
- Prophet of Islam; born c. 570 to Banu Hashim clan of Quraysh tribe in Mecca; raised by father’y family; received revelations from Allah in 610 C.E. and thereafter; died in 632.
- Starter of Islam.
- Islam is a major and influential world religion.
8
Q
Khadijah
A
- First wife of the prophet Muhammad, who had worked for her as a trader.
- One of the original followers of Muhammad.
9
Q
Qur’an
A
- Recitations of revelations received by Muhammad; holy book of Islam.
- Basis of Islam
- Shaped Islam and Islamic world.
10
Q
Ali
A
- Cousin and son-in-law of Muhammad; one of orthodox caliphs; focus for Shi’a.
- Secured safe passage for Muhammad and his followers to Medina.
- Without him Islam may not even exist.
11
Q
umma
A
- Community of the faithful within Islam; transcended old tribal boundaries to create degree of political unity.
- Brought degree of political unity.
12
Q
zakat
A
- Tax for charity; obligatory for all Muslims.
- Showed less contempt for those of lower classes.
- Rich were forbidden from exploiting the poor.
13
Q
five pillars
A
- The obligatory religious duties of all Muslims; confession of faith, prayer, fasting during Ramadan, zakat, and hajj.
- Basic duties of all Muslims
- Structured daily Muslim life.
14
Q
caliph
A
- The political and religious successor to Muhammad.
- Political/religious leaders after Muhammad’s death.
- Controlled SPICE for Islamic world.
15
Q
Bakar, Abu
A
- One of Muhammad’s earliest converts; succeeded Muhammad as first caliph of Islamic community.
- First political leader of Islamic world.
- Very able commander.
16
Q
Ridda Wars
A
- Wars that followed Muhammad’s death in 632; resulted in defeat of rival prophets and some of larger clans; restored unity of Islam.
- Restored unity of Islam
- Unity needed for spreading and prosperity.
17
Q
jihad
A
- Struggle; often used for wars in defense of the faith.
- Holy wars to spread faith.
- Increases Islam’s geographical influence.
18
Q
Copts
A
- Christian sect of Egypt; tended to support Islamic tribes of this area in preference to Byzantine rule.
- Supported Islamic invasion.
- Made jihad easier.
19
Q
Nestorians
A
- A Christian sect found in Asia; tended to support Islamic invasions of this area in preference to Byzantine rule; cut off from Europe by Muslim invasions.
- Supported Islamic invasion.
- Made jihad easier.
20
Q
Uthman
A
- Third caliph and member of Umayyad clan; murdered by mutinous warriors returning form Egypt; death set off civil war in Islam between followers of Ali and the Umayyad clan.
- First caliph to be chosen from Muhammad’s enemies.
- Caused unrest over his position.
21
Q
Battle of Siffin
A
- Fought in 657 between forces of Ali and Umayyads; settled by negotiation that led to fragmentation of Ali’s party.
- War because of caliph power succession.
- Made Ali’s party weaker and fragmented.
22
Q
Mu’awiya
A
- Leader of Umayyad clan; first Umayyad caliph following civil war with Ali.
- Leader following Ali.
- Brought back relative peace.
23
Q
Sunnis
A
- Political and theological division within Islam; supported the Umayyads.
- Supporters of Umayyads.
- Hostility still lasts to this day.
24
Q
Shi’a
A
- Also known as Shi-ites; political and theological division within Islam; followers of Ali.
- Supporters of Ali.
- Hostility still lasts to this day.
25
Q
Karbala
A
- Site of defeat and death of Husayn, son of Ali; marked beginning of Shi’a resistance to Umayyad caliphate.
- Where Husayn was killed.
- Marked beginning of Shi’a resistance to Umayyad caliphate.
26
Q
Damascus
A
- Syrian city that was capital of Umayyad caliphate.
- New political center.
- Arab conquest state.
27
Q
mawali
A
- Non-Arab converts to Islam.
- Had to pay taxes and didn’t get shares of the booty.
28
Q
jizya
A
- Head tax paid by all non-believers in Islamic territories.
- Made mawali more likely to convert.
29
Q
dhimmi
A
- Literally “people of the book”; applied as inclusive term to Jews and Christians in Islamic territories; later expanded to Zoroastrians and Hindus.
- People allowed to practice religion freely.
- Made Islamic rule desireable
30
Q
hadiths
A
- Traditions of the prophet.
- Recordings of Muhammad.
- Many were recorded by women.
31
Q
Abbasid
A
- Dynasty that succeeded the Umayyads as caliphs within Islam; came to power in 750 C.E.
- Political dynasty in Islamic culture.
- SPICE
32
Q
Battle of the River Zab
A
- Victory of Abbasids over Umayyads; resulted in conquest of Syria and capture of Umayyad capital.
- Changed political structure of Islamic structure.
- Influenced SPICEs of Islamic culture.
33
Q
Baghdad
A
- Capital of Abbasid dynasty located in Iraq near ancient Persian capital of Ctesphon.
- Change of capital
- Able to control SPICE
34
Q
wazir
A
35
Q
dhows
A
-Arab sailing vessels with triangular or lateen sails; strongly influenced European ship design.
36
Q
ayan
A
-The wealthy landed elite that emerged in the early decades of Abbasid rule.
