Sharia
the code of law derived from the Koran and from the teachings and example of Mohammed (Islamic Law)
Ulama
Muslim religious scholars. From the ninth century onward, the primary interpreters of Islamic law and the social core of Muslim urban societies.
Umma
the Muslim community or people, considered to extend from Mauritania to Pakistan
Madras
a city in Tamil Nadu on the Bay of Bengal, , a plaid cotton material
Madrasas
Islamic institutions of higher education that originated in the tenth century. By the twelfth century they had become established in the major cities of the Islamic world.
Dhimmi
Literally "people of the book"; applied as inclusive term to Jews and Christians in Islamic territories; later extended to Zoroastrians and even Hindus & Buddhists. A person of a non-Muslim religion whose right to practice that religion is protected withi
Caliph
the civil and religious leader of a Muslim state considered to be a representative of Allah on earth
Imam
religious guide (Islam)
Hajj
the fifth pillar of Islam is a pilgrimage to Mecca during the month of Dhu al-Qadah
Islam
A monotheistic religion that developed in Arabia in 7th century, means "submission to the will of Allah". It is the religion of Muslims collectively which governs their civilization and way of life.
Muslim
A follower of Islam, means "one who has submitted".
Quran
the sacred writings of Islam revealed by God to the prophet Muhammad during his life at Mecca and Medina
Sufism
An Islamic mystical tradition that desired a personal union with God--divine love through intuition rather than through rational deduction and study of the shari'a. Followed an ascetic routine (denial of physical desire to gain a spiritual goal), dedicati
Caravansaries
inns offering lodging for caravan merchants, as well as food, water, and care for their animals.
Gadis
unmarried woman (?)
Sunni
A branch of Islam whose members acknowledge the first four caliphs as the rightful successors of Muhammad
Shia
A branch of Islam whose members acknowledge Ali and his descendants as the rightful successors of Muhammad
Bedouin
Arab nomads, that were organized into "families" or clans. Had a strong sense of loyalty to their clans and guarded their common interests with determination. Clan identities and loyalties survived for centuries after the appearance of Islam.
Jizya
tax paid by Jews and Christians under Muslim rule. It allowed them to keep their religious laws, and retain the right to practice their own religion.
Muhammad (PBUH)
the Arab prophet who founded Islam (570-632)
Abu Bakr
Companion of 1st Muslim leader after Muhammad. Regarded by Sunni's as the 1st caliph and rightful successor. The Shia regard him as a traitor of Muhammad. Known as best interpreter of dreams following Muhammad's death.
Khadija
Muhammad's wife; a wealthy widow whom he married about the year 595
Ali
the fourth caliph of Islam who is considered to be the first caliph by Shiites; he was a cousin and son-in-law of Muhammad; after his assination Islam was divided into Shiite and Sunnite sects
Ibn Rushd
Muslim philosopher who blended Aristotle and Plato's views with Islam
Al- Ghazali
Islamic theologian; struggled to fuse Greek and Qur'anic traditions; not entirely accepted by Ulama
Harum al- Rashid
high point of Abbasid dynasty came during his reign; caliph. (786-809); brought reliable tax revenues from most parts of the empire; Baghdad became a center of banking, commerce, crafts and industrial production
Abu al- Abbas
the chief leader of the rebellion that brought the Umayyad Dynasty to an end; a descendant of Muhammad's uncle; he was a Sunni Arab but allied readily with Shias and with Muslims who were not Arabs
Constantine
Emperor of Rome who adopted the Christian faith and stopped the persecution of Christians (280-337)
Justinian
Byzantine emperor who held the eastern frontier of his empire against the Persians; codified Roman law; built the Hagia Sophia, walls, and the Hippodrome; issued Corpus iuris sivilis (Body of the Civil Law)
Theodora
the wife of Justinian, she helped to improve the status of women in the Byzantinian Empire and encouraged her husband to stay in Constntinople and fight the Nike Revolt.
Belisarius
one of Justinian's most important military commanders during period of reconquest of Western Europe; commended in North Africa and Italy
Charlemagne
King of the Franks; Holy Roman Emperor (800-814). Through a series of military conquests he established the Carolingian Empire, which encompassed all of Gaul and parts of Germany and Italy. Illiterate, though started an intellectual revival. (250)
Otto of Saxony
Established the Holy Roman Empire. Pope John XII proclaimed him HRE in 962. Aggressively built his state. Defended Papal states from Lombards twice.
Leo III
Believing that icons encouraged superstition and idol-worship, in A.D. 726 this emperor ordered all icons removed from the churches; Byzantine Emperor
St. Basil of Caesarea
patriarch of Constantinople during the mid 4th century, urged monasteries to enhance their effectiveness (329-379 C.E.)
Prince Vladimir
Ruler of Kiev who converts to eastern orthodox christianity rather than roman catholic; influenced Russians to convert to Christianity.
St. Cyril
a missionary sent by the Byzantine government to eastern Europe and the Balkans; converted southern Russia and Balkans to Orthodox Christianity; responsible for creation of written script for Slavic known as Cyrillic
Theme System
700-1300, This system divided the Byzantine Empire into different districts that were each led by a general, they were created so that the military could respond quickly to attacks, also peasants who joined the army were given plots of land, thereby incre
Theme System Collapse
1100
Umayyad Damascus
650-750; First hereditary dynasty of Muslim caliphs (661 to 750). From their capital at Damascus, the Umayyads ruled an empire that extended from Spain to India. Overthrown by the Abbasid Caliphate., an ancient city (widely regarded as the world's oldest)
Constantinople
Eastern Capitol, Emperor Constantine,AD 330 moved the capital from Rome to the Greek city Byzantium in the east, and renamed the city. This city became the capital of the Roman empire. It was strategically located for trade and defense purposes.
Iconoclasm
a challenge to or overturning of traditional beliefs, customs, and values, any movement against the religious use of images
Silk Production
stimulated economy, practice stolen from china by monks, major product of China, closely kept secret
Bezant
600- 1200, a gold coin of the Byzantine Empire
Islamic Pressure
650
Iconoclastic Controversy
750, debate between opponents and defenders of icons in the Byzantine Church; one of the issues that led to the split of the Christian church in 1054; schism between Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic Church
Charlemagne Crowned Emperor
France 800
Cyril and Methodius
850, Byzantine missionaries sent to convert eastern Europe and the Balkans; responsible for creating the Slavic written script called Cyrillic (Cyrillic alphabet)
Bulgar Conversion to Christianity
880
Otto of Saxony Crowned Holy Roman Emperor
962
Vladimir (Kievan Rus) converted to Christianity
989
Basil's Death
collapse begins 1025
Final Schism
1054, destroyed hope for a united christian church
Battle of Manzikert
1071, Saljuq Turks defeat Byzantine armies in this battle in Anatolia; shows the declining power of Byzantium.
Council of Clermont
1095, a meeting that took place where pope urban II urged bishops and nobles to support a war against the Muslims
Jerusalem Captured
1099
Saladin Recaptures
1187
4th Crusade sacks Constantinople
Venetian influence 1204
Mongolians Destroy Seljuk
destroyed Kiev nomads from central Asia lead to a centralization and unity between people set up Moscow which becomes a major city
Ottoman Rise
1200
Mongolian Rule
1250
Battle of Kosovo
1389
Timur Lame Interruption
1402
Sultan Bayazid lay siege to Constantinople
1420
Sultan Mehmed II captures Constantinople
1453
Moscow
Declared status of 3rd Rome 1480
Rome Renaissance
from the late 15th to the mid-16th centuries, when the Papal city was the most important place of artistic production of the entire continent with masters who left an indelible (unforgettable) mark on Western figurative art
Kiev
Trade city in southern Russia established by Scandinavian traders in 9th century; became focal point for kingdom of Russia that flourished to 12th century. Political center of eastern Slav. It established political and social relations with Byzantine Empi
dar al-Islam
Arabic term meaning "house of Islam" and refers to lands under Islamic rule