Unit 4: The Middle Ages Asia - The Rise of Islam, Japan: Early History through Muromachi Period and

Unit 4: The Middle Ages Asia - The Rise of Islam, Japan:
Early History through Muromachi Period and Shintoism
Study Guide – Ms. Scott – Honors World History & Geography
“The Rise of Islam” Lecture Guide
- Where did early Arabs settle? Arabian Peninsula What is the climate like? Desert, lack of food
and water
- Who were the early Arabs? Nomads in search for food and water How were they organized?
Tribes What was their early economy? Tribes were mainly independent
- Describe the early religion of the Arabs? Polytheistic-supreme god allah
- Who is Muhammad? Where was he born? Founder of Islam-born in Mecca
- Describe Mecca. major pagan Arab city- international crossroads of goods as well as ideas
- What happened during the lunar month of Ramadan? Muhammad was meditating in a cave
- What religions is Islam similar to? Similar to Christianity and Judaism Who is Allah ? God What
do Muslims consider the Torah and New Testament to be? revelations from God
- What are the differences between Islam and Judaism and/or Christianity? Jesus not son of God,
rather a prophet
- What did Muhammad and his followers do in 630 C.E.? He and his followers go back & conquer
Mecca in 630 - What happened in the years following Muhammad’s death? question arose as to
who would lead Arab tribes.
- What was the difference between Sunnis and Shi’ites (those who follow Shi’a Islam)?
- Define Islam and Muslim. -
- What 2 things served to bind the tribes of Arabia together? - Describe the characteristics of Islamic society that now rules over much of the formerly eastern
Christian world (i.e. territories formerly part of the Eastern Roman/Byzantine Empire)?

culture:encouraged literature, science
Politics: Power vacuum due to decline of persian and byzantines
Religion: appeal
Society:less harsh in comparison
- Will the Arab Muslim Empire stay united over the centuries? new muslim empires rise
- What did Pope Urban II promised Europeans who helped recapture the Holy Land? remission
from sins
- Who suffered at home in Western Europe during the Crusades? Christian persecution of Jews,