MENA Test 1 Flashcards
Epic of Gilgamesh
An epic poem from Mesopotamia. Goal was to find immortality
Code of Hammurabi
A code of law in the Babylon Empire (part of Mesopotamia) made by King Hammurabi.
Life in Early Mesopotamia
Mainly an agricultural economy and settled around the Euphrates and Tigris rivers in city states. Religion also played a big role in Mesopotamian life.
Monotheism
The belief in the existence of only one deity or god. Examples include: Christianity, Judaism, Islam
Father of the Faith in Judaism
Abraham
Holy Books in Judaism
Main Holy Books: Torah and Talmud
Approximate Time of Judaism
Started at approximately 1800 BCE
Christianity connection to Judaism
Christianity and Judaism shared its foundational texts in the Old Testament. Christianity also traces its roots back to Judaism.
Holy Books in Christianity
The Bible
Persecution of the Christians
Persecution started in the early days of Christianity and persevered to today. Examples include: Roman Empire in the first few centuries AD.
Approximate time of Christianity
Started in the first century AD to today.
Islam connection to Judaism
Islam originated from both Judaism and Christianity. It also recognized Abraham as the first prophet, like Judaism. It also incorporates part of Jewish history as its own.
Islams Prophet
Muhammad
Holy Cities in Islam
Mecca and Medina
Holy Books in Islam
Qur’an and Hadiths
Pillars of Islam
Acknowledge that there is only one god,
Pray towards Mecca 5 times daily,
Give a portion of wealth to the needy,
Fasting during the holy month of Ramadan,
Pilgrimage to Mecca
Sunni and Shi’a divide
Muhammad had no male heir, made split in Islam into two groups, Sunnis who followed Abu Bakr and Shi’as who followed Ali.
Requirements for Converting
Islam: Declaration of faith in god
Christianity: Public Declaration
Judaism: Born into it, or go through extensive process
Components of the Sharia
Qur’an
Sunna (behavior) of Prophet
Fiqh - analytical reasoning
Ijma - consensus of the community
Ottomans Time Period
Lasted from 14th to 20th century, almost 600 years
Why were the Ottomans so successful?
They were technologically advanced, powerful military, held a strategic location, established the millet system, and incorporated different cultures and religions into it.
Who and when did Constantinople fall to
Sultan Mehmed II, or Mehmed the Conqueror, 1453
Suleyman I
Established a unified law, expanded both the territory and the revenue of the empire, built up Constantinople (Istanbul) as the empire’s capital.
Political and Economical Success of the Ottomans
Implemented sophisticated tax systems, and being located at the crossroads of Europe Asia, and Africa made it a center for trade. They established a centralized government with the Sultan and his advisers.