The Rise of Islamic Civilization - White Plains Public Schools



The Rise of Islamic Civilization

Global History and Geography I Name: ___________________

E. Napp Date: ___________________

Can you list the Five Pillars of Islam?

1. ____________________________________________________

2. ____________________________________________________

3. ____________________________________________________

4. ____________________________________________________

5. ____________________________________________________

Can you define the following key terms?

• Koran: _________________________________________

• Allah: _________________________________________

• Monotheism: ____________________________________

• Mosque: ________________________________________

• Prophet Muhammad: _______________________________

Muhammad died in A.D. 632. After his death, Muslim leaders carried his teachings to others by means of jihads. A jihad is a holy war or a struggle to follow God’s will and spread Islam. Islam spread across North Africa and into Europe. It also spread across the Persian Empire and the Byzantine Empire to parts of India, Southeast Asia, and China.

Questions:

1- When did the Prophet Muhammad die? _______________________________________________________

2- What is a jihad? _______________________________________________________

3- Why did Islam spread? ________________________________________________________

4- Where did Islam spread? ________________________________________________________

In 750 A.D., the Abbasid dynasty became rulers of the Arabian Empire. The first Arabian dynasty was the Umayyad dynasty. The Abbasid rulers built a new capital-Baghdad-on the banks of the Tigris River. It became, and still is, an important center of trade. Thousands of people worked for four years to build Baghdad. It had many large public buildings, including libraries, hospitals, and gardens.

The Islamic Empire became rich because of its trade, farming, and respect for others. Muslims controlled the most important trade routes in the world. These routes linked together Africa, Europe, and Asia. The Muslims also improved farming. Farmers grew surplus food or more than enough food to feed the people who lived in the many large Arab cities.

Finally, Arabs respected the cultures of many of the people they conquered in their holy wars. In particular, Arabs respected Jews and Christians. Arabs called Jews and Christians “people of the Book (the Bible)”. Since Muhammad believed that his God was the same God as the Jews and Christians, Muhammad respected Jews and Christians. Jews and Christians were expected to pay a special tax in the Islamic Empire but were free to practice their religious traditions and participate in the Islamic government. Muslim rulers were generally tolerant of Jews and Christians.

Questions:

5- Who were the Abbasids? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

6- Where was their capital? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

7- What factors increased wealth in the Islamic Empire? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

8- Why did Muslim rulers respect Jews and Christians? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

9- What responsibilities did Jews and Christians have in the Islamic Empire and how were they treated by Muslim rulers? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

After the death of Muhammad, the Muslim people began looking to a new type of ruler, which they called a caliph. The word ‘caliph’ means successor. The caliph was not however a prophetic successor, since Muslims believed that Muhammad was the last prophet. Under the direction of the caliphs, the Islamic empire continued to spread in influence, wealth, and power. The first four caliphs were close friends and relatives of Muhammad.

Define caliph: __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Islamic Art

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Muslims generally do not draw human figures or animals. The depiction of human figures and animals in Islamic art is generally prohibited. Their art work is made up of flowers and richly patterned shapes based on geometrical design.

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One way in which Muslims used this beautiful patterning is to decorate their books.

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One of the ways that Muslims decorate their buildings is by writing the words from the Qur'an or the sayings of Muhammad in beautiful calligraphy on the tiles.

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Questions:

10- What is forbidden in Islamic art? ________________________________________________________

11- Does art exist in the Islamic world? ________________________________________________________

12- Describe Islamic art. ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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Word Bank:

Monotheism, Tigris, Alcohol, Ramadan, Muslim, Muhammad, Tax, Human, Mosque, Jihad, Caliph, Pork, Abbasid

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