Medieval and Early Modern African and Arabian Civilizations

Question 1

What cultures thrived in Africa? What was their strong Kingdom?

Answer 1

Swahili- seaports and trade gave rise to various city states along the eastern coast such as the Swahili.
Zimbabwe- became a strong kingdom based on GOLD TRADE. (as well as precious stones and metals)

Question 2

What had a strong influence on western Africa with its religious and trade aspects?

Answer 2

• had been heavily influenced by Islam for religious and trade aspects
• Islam brought a boom in trade for western societies in Africa.

Question 3

What’s an important group of people to know in AFRICA?

Answer 3

The Berbers

Question 4

Who are the Berbers?

Answer 4

Are nomadic people in Northern Africa whose origin extend as far back as ancient times. They have been referred to by other names such as Libyans, Mauri, and Moors (depending on who is taking about them, Romans call them Mauri)
-Still exist today, existed and prospered.

Question 5

What does nomadic mean?

Answer 5

they travel around, constantly moving tribe.

Question 6

Arabia- what united the Arab Peninsula? who is considered the prophet of Islam?

Answer 6

After the death of Muhammad, the Muslim Conquests (600-700 A.D.) united the Arab Peninsula under Islam.
-Muhammad is considered the prophet of Islam (wrote the holy book of Islam)

Question 7

What was Arabia ruled by?

Answer 7

Arabia was ruled by a succession of caliphs (spiritual leaders from 600-1900A.D.) through the Ottoman rulers (Turkey 1300-1900 A.D.) tended to use the word “sultan” (Turkish/Ottomans came in and conquered Arabia and instuled their own rulers, they were caliphs but we know them as sultans.

Question 8

What was a caliph?

Answer 8

a sultan (spiritual leader)

Question 9

Who were the Ottomans?

Answer 9

The Turks.
The Ottoman state began as one of many small Turkish states that emerged in Asia Minor during the breakdown of the empire of the Seljuk Turks. The Ottoman Turks began to absorb the other states, and during the reign (1451–81) of Muhammad II they ended all other local Turkish dynasties. The early phase of Ottoman expansion took place under Osman I, Orkhan, Murad I, and Beyazid I at the expense of the Byzantine Empire, Bulgaria, and Serbia. Bursa fell in 1326 and Adrianople (the modern Edirne) in 1361; each in turn became the capital of the empire. The great Ottoman victories of Kosovo Field (1389) and Nikopol (1396) placed large parts of the Balkan Peninsula under Ottoman rule and awakened Europe to the Ottoman danger. The Ottoman siege of Constantinople was lifted at the appearance of Timur, who defeated and captured Beyazid in 1402. The Ottomans, however, soon rallied.

Question 10

Influence of Islam

Answer 10

• Islam spread throughout the Byzantine and Persian Empires. Alot of that had to do with the Ottomans (the Turks).
• They eventually conquered the Byzantine (eastern roman empire) The religion of Islam is based Muhammad.

Question 11

Islamic teachings.

Answer 11

• based on Muhammed (the prophet)
• emphasized the Koran as the source for moral and ethical conduct. (Good acts and good deeds and living a righteous life)

Basic duties and aspects of an Islamic person

1. Pray 5 times daily
2. Give alms (charity, to the poor)
3. Fast during Ramadan (once a month)
4. Make a pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca (ceremonies)