1.2 Flashcards
Developments in Dar-al-Islam 1200-1450
1.2
Dar Al Islam means…
“the house of Islam” (everywhere Islam is)
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What are the three major religions between 1200-1450 (major travel routes)? What are two less-prominent religions of this time?
Christianity, Islam, Buddhism
Less prominent: Christianity, Hinduism, Judaism
1.2
Briefly explain the origins and significance of Judaism.
Originated in Middle East, monotheistic. The root of Christianity and Islam.
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Briefly explain the origins and significance Christianity.
Established by Jewish Jesus Christ, who claimed to be the Jew’s messiah, crucified. Jews believe he was a prophet. His followers preached his message of salvation by grace. Originally a persecuted minority, the Roman empire later adopted Christianity as the state religion. It led to an emerging hierarchy of popes and bishops that influenced African and European states. Jesus’ teachings did not hold accumulating wealth in high esteem, leading to Christianity not spreading as efficiently as Islam in Africa, as Islam was often adopted for economic advantage.
1.2
Briefly explain the origins and significance of Islam.
Founded on Arabian Peninsula in 7th century by the prophet Muhammad, who claimed to be the final prophet in the line of God’s messengers. Emphasized salvation through righteous actions (praying, alms, fasting). Spread throughout Middle East, Africa, South Asia, and Europe. Provided trade connections within Dar-Al-Islam: Muhammad was a merchant, so merchants in Islam were highly esteemed = economic prosperity in comparison to Christian states prior to 1200.
Facilitated the rise of Islamic states and empires
1.2
What was the origins and significance pf the Abbasid Caliphate?
Took rule after the Umayyad Caliphate.
Ethnically Arab, held power during the Golden Age of Islam: major innovation in math, science, literature, technology. By 1200, Golden Age ended as the Abbasid Empire fractured into smaller powers and lost prominence as the major Islamic empire, which gave way to smaller Islamic states that took its place that were made up of Turkic Muslims
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What were three prominent Turkic Muslim empires between 1200-1450?
Seljuk empire: Central Asia. A nomadic peoples enlisted as mercenaries by the Abbasid Empire for expansion, but they rose and gained the most prominent political power within the Abbasid Empire.
Mamluk Sultanate: Egypt. Ayyubid sultanate leader Saladin enslaved the Mamluks (Turkic warrior group) for labor, and Mamluks seized power due to incompetent leaders.
Delhi Sultanate: South Asia. Muslim state in north of India that ruled over Indians for ~300 years.
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Identify one continuity between Muslim empires between 1200-1450.
Military-ruled administration
Sharia law (law outlined by Quran)
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What were three ways that Muslim states expanded? Give an example of a state that used each method.
1) Military expansion (e.g., Delhi Sultanate)
2) Missionaries (e.g., the Sufis)
3) Trade: increased trade access for states that became Islamic (e.g., Mali)
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What is Sufism? What was its significance?
An emerging branch of Islam. Emphasized mystical experiences and accessibility to all peoples. Islamic scholars denounced it. Became a primary way of spreading Islam due to it’s lack of theological complexity.
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Intellectual innovation and exchange from Islamic Empires 1200-1450
Mathematics: trigonometry
House of Wisdom
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Why was Nasir Al-Din-Al-Tusi significant and who was he?
Muslim, invented trigonometry in order to understand the movement of stars and planets. His innovations later were used by Nicolas Copernicus to develop the heliocentric theory.
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Expand on the House of Wisdom and its significance.
Made in Baghdad. A library esteemed by scholars globally used to study natural sciences and religion, where scholars preserved and translated Greek philosophy (e.g., Plato and Aristotle) and texts that later inspired the Renaissance in Europe
