Reading Guide

Chapter 11: The Formation of Islamic Civilization (622-945)

Name:
Use chapter 11 to answer these guided reading questions. Please answer each question or define
each term fully. Completion of the guide (see rubric) is worth 20 points toward a minor
assessment. Due Date: October 24, 2011
Origins and Early Development
1) What was the Fertile Crescent area like in the years leading up to the birth of
Muhammad?
In the years leading up to the birth of Muhammad, in the Fertile Crescent, Byzantium and
Iran had kept the nomads of the Syrian and Northern Arabian steppe at bay by enlisting
small Arab client kingdoms on the edge of the desert as buffer states. Some of these were
of Christian faith. There were also Arab kingdoms in the highlands of Southern Arabia.
The Fertile Crescent was also the center of trade back then.
2) What did the Kaba mean to early Arab society?
It was a sanctuary in Mecca where many pagan Arab tribes had gods enshrined.
3) Define:
A) Muhammad - a prophet who received gods messages from Gabriel
B) Quran - the Islamic holy book, the recitation of gods word through Gabriel to
Muhammad
C) Islam submission to gods will
D) Muslim the religion that Islamic people are
E) Prophet a person chosen to speak for god and guide people
F) Hegira - the emigration of Muhammad from Mecca to Medina
G) Mecca a holy city, where Muslims pilgrimage to once in their lifetime to visit
the Kaba.
H) Umma the Islamic community
I) Hajj the pilgrimage to mecca to pray at the Kaba
4) Why do you think the pan-Arab community accepted Islam in place of their traditional
religious beliefs like Zoroastrianism?
I think the pan-Arab community accepted Islam in place of their traditional religious
beliefs because Islam was simple and benefitted everyone.
5) How did Judaism, Christianity, and Zoroastrianism influence Islam?
They influenced Islam by demanding absolute obedience to the one Lord of the Universe.
Also, prophets of those religions were sent on similar missions as Muhammad. The
communities of those other prophets had strayed from their scriptures teachings or
altered them, so Muhammad was given one last iteration of Gods message.
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Reading Guide
Chapter 11: The Formation of Islamic Civilization (622-945)
6) After reading Historys Voices on page 224, explain the main messages of the Qu'ran.
The main messages of the Quran are moral admonition, social justice, eternal
punishment for the ungodly, and stories of past people and their prophet.
Early Islamic Conquests
7) Early Islamic conquests were successful; explain some of the factors that led to the
success of Islamic conquests.
Some of the factors that led to the success of Islamic conquests were the weakness of
Byzantine and Persian empires, many people welcomed liberation from their rulers, Islam
promised the equality of classes, and the Muslims were efficient at fighting.
8) How were Jews, Christians and Zoroastrian minorities treated in Muslim society?
The Jews, Christians, and Zoroastrian minorities were tolerated and accepted, but were
taxed for being of those religions. They were allowed to keep their lands, practice their
faiths, and receive protection in return for the payment of tax.
9) Explain the Five Pillars of Islam and other basic tenets.
The Five Pillars of Islam are accepting God and Muhammad as Gods messenger,
praying 5 times a day facing Mecca, fasting during Ramadan, donating to the needy, and
making a pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in a persons life. The other basic tenets are
allegiance to the umma, honesty, modesty in dress and demeanor, abstention from
alcohol or pork, benevolence and fair treatment to women, especially in regard to
property and marriage rights, and ritual washing before worship.
The New Islamic Order
10) What is the Dome of the Rock?
The Dome of the Rock is a shrine built by Abd al-Malik on the rock from which Muslims
believe Muhammad ascended into heaven and on which Jews believe Abraham prepared
to sacrifice Isaac. It has significance because it is associated with the life and story of the
Prophet.
11) How important was/is the ulama in Muslim society?
The ulama, Islamic scholars, brought paper, anatomy, medicine, cataract removal
techniques, algebra, trigonometry, and philosophy to the Muslim society. Without them,
the Muslim society would not have been as sophisticated and knowledgeable and would
not have been able to improve. They established a basis for religious and social order.
12) How are the beliefs of the Kharijites and Shia different than that of the Centrists, or
Sunna?

Reading Guide
Chapter 11: The Formation of Islamic Civilization (622-945)
The beliefs of the Kharijites and Shia are different than that of the Centrists. The
Kharijites believed that the Muslim polity must be based on strict Quranic principles.
They supported total equality of the faithful and believed that the leader of the Umma
should be the best Muslim. The Shia believed Ali to be the Prophets appointed
successor. They also believed that the true Muslim was the faithful follower of the imans,
who carried Muhammads blood and spiritual authority. The Centrists believed that the
umma is a theocratic entity, a state under the authority of Gods law, the caliph is the
absolute temporal ruler who possesses no greater authority than other Muslims in matters
of faith, and that anybody who wanted to be a Muslim by professing that There is no
god but God, and Muhammad is His Messenger should be considered a Muslim.
The High Caliphate
13) How did Islamic society develop during the Abbasid dynasty?
Islamic society developed during the Abbasid dynasty by deeply dividing the rulers and
populace. It also developed a self-confident Muslim polity and a diminished need for
centralized caliphal power. Also, Persian poetry and Arabic scientific studies began a
Persian Islamic cultural renaissance and influential scientific tradition.
The Classical Islamic Culture
14) Why is the hadith significant to Muslims?
The hadith is significant to Muslims because it became the chief source of Muslim legal
and religious norms alongside the Quran, as well as the basic unit of most prose genres,
from history to Quran exegesis.
15) What type of intellectual developments occurred during the High Caliphate?
The intellectual developments that occurred during the High Caliphate are a thirst of any
knowledge, sophisticated tastes, Hellenistic learning, language, literature, art, and
architecture. Poetry and grammar flourished in language, and the combination and
elaboration of discrete forms developed in art and architecture.

16) What style of architecture is this? What distinctive features stand out to you?
This style of architecture is arabesque architecture. The distinctive features that stand out
to me are the pointed arches, the geometric designs, and the pillars.

Reading Guide
Chapter 11: The Formation of Islamic Civilization (622-945)

17) What are the tall structures incorporated into this mosque (Al-Masjid al-Haram)?
The tall structures incorporated into this mosque are called minarets. Muslims used these
towers to call people to prayer.

18) Why is water significant to Muslims? What does the use of water in this building (The
Alhambra in Spain) tell us about Muslim culture during the Middle Ages?
Water is significant to Muslims because it is precious to them. Since they are all used to
the desert, where there is no water, water is the best thing to have. The use of water in
this building tells us that Muslim culture was very sophisticated and advanced for their
time. They were able to create aqueducts to control the flow of water from place to place.
Summary
19) Why was Islam able to spread so fast throughout Eurasia?
Islam was able to spread so fast throughout Eurasia because many people welcomed a
religion that included an afterlife. Many people also liked the idea of the equality of
classes and the generosity and calmness of Islam. Also, people were taxed if they werent
Muslim, so it was cheaper and easier to convert to Islam.