World History I Ruback: 09-10

Unit IV: Islam and the Rise of Islamic Empires

600CE-250CE

Essential Question: How did religion and trade contribute to the scientific, artistic and
intellectual accomplishments of the Islamic Empires?

Key Questions:
• What are the origins, traditions and beliefs of Islam? What does this religion have in
common with other monotheistic religions?
• How does Islamic art reflect the basic beliefs of Islam?
• Why were the Islamic Empires successful in spreading Islam?
• What were the consequences of Muhammad’s death on unified rule in the Islamic
Empires?
• What affect does Sharia law have on modern Islamic law and society?
• What is the importance of trade within the Islamic Empires?

Objectives:
• Locate the Islamic Empires and important cities of the Islamic Empires
• Identify several ways in which Islam is routed in Judaism and Christianity
• Explain how Muhammad unified the Arabian Peninsula under Islam
• Describe the practices of Muslims (5 Pillars)
• Identify the major caliphates
• Compare the Umayyad and Abbasid Caliphates
• Explain how caliphates lead to the religious movements and shifts toward
SunniShia/Sufi
• Explain the importance of trade within a culture
• Identify examples of scientific, artistic, and intellectual accomplishments of the Islamic
Empires
• Evaluate how these accomplishments were influenced by religion and/0r trade
• Define: caliph, Sunni, Shi’a, Sufi, House of Wisdom

Textbook Sections:
The Rise of Islam (10.1) Pages 233-237
The Spread of Islam (10.2) Pages 238-241
Muslim Achievement (10.3) Pages 242-247