Rise Of Islam Dbq

Identify: a) Fatima and Ali: Fatima and Ali were Muhammad’s daughter and son-in

law, whose descendants were seen by the Shiites as the appropriate leaders. However, after Ali became the fourth caliph, he was assassinated.

b) Sufi: Sufis were mystics who communicated with god through meditation and fasting. Many spread the Islamic region through missionary work to remote villages. There, they blended Muslim culture with local beliefs and traditions.

c) Rabiah al-Adawiyya: Rabiah al-Adawiyya was one of the earliest ones to convert to become a Sufi. She made the decision to stay unmarried and be devoted to prayer. In the poem that she wrote, she describes how Muslims should respect no reward from worshipping God, and should do so selflessly.

d) Umayyads: The Umayyad family defeated Ali and killed his son, and went on to to build a dynasty to rule the Islamic world until 750. The capital of Damascus was where multiple successful conquests were directed from. However, some problems they had to face are described in the book, and they include having to adapt from living in the desert to ruling large territories/cities. Therefore, they relied on locals to help govern the empire. Other conflicts included one between the wealthy and poor as well as between the Muslims and the court who’s ways differed from the early caliphs. The Shiites also disliked the Umayyads, because it seemed as if they dishonored the Prophet's family. Many who converted to Islam under the Umayyad had fewer rights.
e) Abu al-Abbas: Abu al-Abbas was a ruler who captured Damascus and killed all but one of the Umayyad family. His Abbassid dynasty made Islam an international religion, and helped make the empire the wealthiest and most powerful. Due to this, the Islamic civilization was in its golden age.
f) Harun al-Rashid: Harun al-Rashid was a caliph who ruled an empire from 786 to 809. This ruler was a symbol of splendor and wealth as well as a model ruler. The text recalls legends that say Harun was a supporter of the arts, and once gave 10,000 dirhams to a poet who wrote verses he thought was beautiful. After meeting with this poet, he gave him another 100,000.
g) Tamerlane: Tamerlane was a Mongol leader, and was also called Timur the Lame. In the later 1300s, he led his armies in the Middle East to conquer not only Muslim lands, but also ones that were non-Muslim. Before going to India and Russia, they took over Mesopotamia and Persia.

2) Define: a) minaret: The minarets were towers where the crier, or muezzin said prayers to
the faithful.

These towers were slender and loomed over the streets along with domes.

b) sultan: A sultan is some kind of authority. For example, a Seljuk sultan was the authority that controlled Baghdad.

3) A. What areas did Arab armies conquer?

Areas that Arab armies conquered include Sicily, Spain, Egypt, and Palestine. They also overran areas such as the Persian Empire and North Africa.

B. Give three reasons for the rapid success of the Arab conquests.

Three reasons for the rapid success of the conquests include unity under one faith, which spiritually connected the armies. Also, the rulers who led the conquests were bold and persistent in their methods. Finally, another reason as to why the Arabs were so successful, was that the neighboring empires were not as strong.

4) What issues divided Sunni Muslims and Shiite Muslims?

The split between Sunni and Shiite Muslims were caused due to their different opinions on Muslim leadership. The Sunnis thought the community leader should choose the caliph while the Shiites thought the descendants of Muhammad’s son and daughter in-law were the right choice. After the death of Ali. many Shiites died trying to install who they thought should be

caliphs.

5) A. How did divisions within the Arab empire lead to the emergence of the Abbasid dynasty?
Divisions within the empire were caused by differences of opinions of who the successor of Muhammad. This caused the Umayyad family to take over, which then led to Abu al-Abbass conquering Damascus from this family dynasty. Many who were not content with the old leader found a leader in Abu al-Abbass who created the Abbasid dynasty.
B. Why did the empire eventually break up?
The empire eventually broke up, because independent dynasties were ruling separate Muslim states in Spain, Egypt, and other places. The power of the caliph declined, the Shiite rulers took over certain areas of the empire, and civil wars broke out.