Islam

Question 1

Where did Islam originate?

Answer 1

Arabia

Question 2

Who inhabited Arabia and where they like?

Answer 2

populated by Arabs, a Semitic people

Didn’t play a role in history before the introduction of Islam in the 500-600’s

Question 3

Who was the key figure for Islam?

Answer 3

Muhammad 570 - 632 AD

Question 4

Who was Muhammad?

Answer 4

born in Mecca
raised by uncle who was in caravan business which allowed Muhammad to travel greatly
met his very wealthy wife and retired at 25
free time allowed him to meditate about the meaning of life.

Question 5

What happened to Muhammad in 610?

Answer 5

he has a religious experience in the desert
visited by an archangel, Gabriel, and told Muhammad that he was the chosen one to introduce a new religion
Goes back to Mecca to tell everyone what he’d heard and built a following

Question 6

What did Muhammad’s success cause him in Mecca?

Answer 6

The people who ran Mecca did not like his following since Mecca was an important religious center (magical meteor) that generated wealth for the travelers and the Mecca “business” would die.

Question 7

What did Mecca do to Muhammad and his followers?

Answer 7

kicked them out

Question 8

What was Muhammad’s flee called?

Answer 8

the Hegira

represents the official beginning of their religion

Question 9

What happens to the city that Muhammad flees to?

Answer 9

The population is converted to Islam
Muhammad becomes the religious, political, and military leader
city is renamed Median

Question 10

What does Muhammad lead Medina through?

Answer 10

A conquest of most of Arabia including Mecca and shows the first time Arabia is unified
from 622-632

Question 11

What do the Muslims elect and what is their role?

Answer 11

The Caliph
means the representative of Muhammad on Earth
a political, religious, and military leader of all Muslims

Question 12

Who was the second elected Caliph?

Answer 12

Omar I

Question 13

What was a result of Omar I’s election?

Answer 13

Islam explodes as Arabians conquer a huge empire and destroyed the New Persian Empire, M.E., and Byzantine

Question 14

Why were the Arabs successful in their conquest?

Answer 14

Persians and Byzantines were weak from constant fighting
Arabs are unified
economic incentives for defeating wealthy empires
Arabs are tolerant of people’s religions, didn’t enforce conversion
Arabs have a concept of jihad (Holy War) and to live life as a better Musclim

Question 15

What was the first civil war?

Answer 15

Muawiya v. Ali in 656 - 661
a leader rivalry of people who wanted to be caliph
Muawiya wants a democratic process
Ali wants hereditary seniority 
Muawiya is victorious.

Question 16

What did Muawiya change his ideology to? What did he begin?

Answer 16

Established Hereditary Monarch, moving from democracy

Begins the Umayyad Dynasty from 661-750

Question 17

What was the Umayyad Dynasty?

Answer 17

all people of the family runs as Caliph, the first ruling Dynasty
moves the capital to Damascus
democracy begins to disappear
leads to the first Islamic Division

Question 18

Who were followers of Muawiya?

Answer 18

Sumi Muslims

make majority of Muslim population

Question 19

Who were the followers of Ali?

Answer 19

Shi’ite Muslims

make minority of Muslim population

Question 20

What did Muslim armies continue to do during the Umayyad Dynasty?

Answer 20

continue to expand and attempt to expand into Europe through the East
attempt to break into Constantinople

Question 21

Why was Constantinople impregnable?

Answer 21

huge walls around city, several layers with moats
prepared for attack, knew it was coming
Built underground water sources, allowing survival
developed Greek Fire for warfare
Byzantines were Easter Orthodox Christians who used their faith in God to win
Record winters kill Muslims

Question 22

What do Muslims do after failing to enter through the east?

Answer 22

They conquer all of North Africa
Jump across Med Sea into Spain and conquer Spain
invade the kingdom of the Franks in France

Question 23

Who were the Franks?

Answer 23

Germans who destroyed Western Roman Empire

Question 24

What occurs during the invasion of France?

Answer 24

the battle of Tours in 732
led by Charles Martel (the Hammer)
Franks defeat the Muslims and drive them back to Spain
Muslim expansion stops
balance is reached between both religions

Question 25

What does the Mediterranean Sea act as?

Answer 25

A border between Christianity (North of Med) and Islam (South of Med)

Question 26

What caused the rebellion against the Umayyad Dynasty?

Answer 26

After failing to expand, Muslims lose respect which leads to a rebellion

Question 27

Who was the rebellion against the Umayyads led by?

Answer 27

Abu al-Abbus 750-754 and establishes the Abbasid Dynasty from 750-1258

Question 28

What did the Muslims do during the Abbasid Dynasty?

Answer 28

they conquer into Asia, up to to the borders of China

Question 29

What happened as Muslims reached China?

Answer 29

engaged in war in 751, Battle of Talas River, Tangs v. Abbasids
Abbasids are victorious and Chinese lose their western territories

Question 30

In the end, what did the Muslims have?

Answer 30

have conquered the largest empire ever from Spain to China and began to create advanced civilizations with prestigious universities and begin the the Golden Age of Muslim history