World historyLesson 1 of 2 in the course The Islamic World

The Islamic World, 750–1500: States, Trade, Scholarship, and Society

5 flashcards · 5 quiz questions · 5 match pairs · 5 fill-in sentences · English

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Summary

This lesson traces how Islam spread from its beginnings in seventh-century Arabia and how the Muslim community became both geographically expansive and politically diverse.

Islam emerged during the life of the Prophet Muhammad in the seventh century CE. The ummah is the community of Muslims. After Muhammad’s death, Muslim rulers called caliphs governed areas known as caliphates.

All flashcards

What was the ummah?
The ummah was the community of Muslims. It connected Muslims across regions even when they lived under different political rulers.
Who were the Rashidun?
The Rashidun were the four caliphs who succeeded Muhammad and ruled before the Umayyad dynasty.
Why was Baghdad important to the Abbasids?
The Abbasids made Baghdad the capital of their caliphate after replacing the Umayyads in 750, making it a major center of their political realm.
Which caliphates rivaled one another around 1000?
The Sunni Abbasids ruled from Baghdad, the Shi‘ite Fatimids from Cairo, and the Sunni Umayyads from Cordoba.
How did Islam reach Southeast Asia?
Islam spread there in part through sustained Indian Ocean trade, which connected Muslim merchants and communities with Southeast Asia, especially Indonesia.

Quiz questions

  1. What did Sufis seek through devotional practices such as meditation and ritual prayer?Answer: A direct experience of God.
  2. What was the jizya commonly paid by dhimmis?Answer: A poll tax on non-Muslims.
  3. How did letters of credit help merchants conduct long-distance trade?Answer: They reduced the need to carry large amounts of gold.
  4. Which Moroccan traveler journeyed as far as China and later dictated an account of his travels?Answer: Ibn Battuta.
  5. Which three states are commonly called the gunpowder empires?Answer: The Ottoman, Safavid, and Mughal empires.

Based on World History Volume 2, from 1400 by Ann Kordas, Ryan J. Lynch, Brooke Nelson, Julie Tatlock (OpenStax), licensed CC BY 4.0. Adapted into a summary, flashcards and quizzes.

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