Topic 2 Study Guide- The Muslim World And Africa

Front 1

What would Muhammad eventually urge the Arabs to do?

Back 1

He would urge them to give up their worship of pagan gods for worship to Allah

Front 2

What is the history and importance of the Kaaba, and the critical role it plays?

Back 2

Muhammad destroyed the Arab icons in the Kaaba, the temple he believed Abraham built. He rededicated it to Allah, it became the most holy place in Islam

Front 3

What are the 5 Pillars of Islam?

Back 3

1. Declaration of faith, “there is no god but God (allah)”;

Muhammad is the messenger of god

2. Pray 5x daily

3. Give charity to the poor

4. Fast during Ramadan

5. Make the hajj/pilgrimage to Mecca, if able

Front 4

What caused the decline of the Abbasid Dynasty?

Back 4

Independent dynasties take over, the Seljuk Turks invade, and the Mongols invade

Front 5

What are the characteristics of Muslim Art?

Back 5

Calligraphy, geometric patterns

Front 6

What are the similarities between the Sunni and Shiite Muslims?

Back 6

They believe in the same god, look to the Quran for guidance, and follow pillars of Islam

Front 7

What are the differences between the Sunni and Shiite Muslims?

Back 7

They differ in religious practices, law, and daily life

Front 8

What disagreement caused the split between the Sunni and Shiite Muslims?

Back 8

The Shiites believed that true successes of Muhammad were descendants of Ali and Fatima (imams). The Sunni believed that any good Muslim could lead the Muslims (who could be a “good” Muslim)

Front 9

What is happening on the map?

Back 9

The rapid spread of Islam, lands in the first four caliphs

Front 10

Why were merchants important in Islam?

Back 10

Merchants were honored because Muhammad was a merchant, “they are the couriers of the horizon and Gods trusted servants on earth.”

Front 11

What was the best hope for the conquered ottomans?

Back 11

To become a part of the Janizaries, or government officials

Front 12

What document, written by who, shows the accomplishments from Islam’s Golden Age?

Back 12

The Rubáiyát by Omar Khayyám

Front 13

Which Islamic period would have the deepest eastward expansion into Asia by a Muslim empire?

Back 13

The Safavid empire

Front 14

What is the importance of this image?

Back 14

The siege marked the end of the Byzantine empire, and renamed Istanbul, center for Muslim culture

Front 15

What evidence suggests that Great Zimbabwe was a great commercial center?

Back 15

The gold resources, beads, and porcelain, and evidence of jewelry and weaving cotton cloth

Front 16

How did Nubian Trade and Iron contribute to the importance of Nubia?

Back 16

The capital, Meroë, was the center of commerce, and they were rich in iron ore and timber

Front 17

What allowed the kingdom of Ghana to become so successful?

Back 17

The gold-salt trade route and Islamic influence

Front 18

Who was the founder of the Empire of Mali?

Back 18

Sundiata

Front 19

What was the importance of salt as a natural resource?

Back 19

Salt was rare, it helped nutrition; overcome dehydration (mostly in tropical areas), food preservation, homes out of blocks of salt

Front 20

What caused the West African Kingdom of Ghana to grow powerful, wealthy, and incorporate Islamic values and ideals in the society and government?

Back 20

The gold-salt trade helped Islam come into Ghana by Muslim merchants and traders

-emphasis on education and learning

Front 21

What’s the importance made of “Travels of Ibn Bauttuta”

Back 21

Ocean travel led to connecting different culture, and tolerance of new traditions and ideas

Front 22

During the Bantu, where did West African farmers and herders move to?

Back 22

The south and east

Front 23

Who were the griots of West Africa?

Back 23

Professional story tellers at

Front 24

What makes the Swahili a valid example supporting the conclusion that East Africa’s geographic proximity to the coast affected its culture?

Back 24

Brought the language through trade and the blend of cultures brought new ideas

Swahili= of the Coast

Front 25

What are the roles of Griots?

Back 25

They preserved both histories and traditional folk tales

Front 26

What is a core social factor that gave people a sense of community and shared responsibility in Medieval African culture?

Back 26

Extended lineage