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The Arab Empire and Its Successors

Caliph- Successor to Muhammad, religious leader

Jihad- Defensive warfare, “struggle in the way of God”

Shiite- Sect of Islam who accepts only the descendents of Ali as true religious leaders

Sunni- Sect of Islam that accept any devout Muslim as a religious leader

Visier- An advisor to the CaliphSultan- Turkish title meaning

“holder of power”Mosque- Muslim house of worship

8. How did General Mu’awiyah create the Umayyad dynasty?

By becoming the Caliph and making it a hereditary position in his family

9. List the occupations that were given respect under the Abbasids

Judges, merchants, Government officials

10. Describe the Mongol EmpireDestructive invaders who burnt

cities and conquered a huge part of the world through terror

11. What were strengths and weaknesses of the Abbasid dynasty

Strengths tolerance of non-muslims, non- Arabs could hold high offices, supported learning, economic prosperity

Weaknesses- Fighting over the succesion of the caliphate, financial corruption, local rulers broke away from central authority

Abu Bakr- Muhammad’s father in law who was chosen as the 1st caliph after Muhammad’s death

Mu’awiyah- started the Umayadd dynasty by claiming the caliphate for his family

Umayyad dynasty- Created a powerful state; Islam split into Sunni and Shiite

Berbers- People of North Africa who conquered the Umayyad dynasty

Hussein- led a battle against the Umayyad to try to get control of the Caliphate

Abbasid dynasty- Overthrew the Umayyad and set up an accepting empire

Harun al-Rashid- Caliph who ruled during the Golden Age of the Abbasid

Seljuk Turks- people from Central Asia who set up a sultanate and took over the Abbasid dynasty

Saladin- Great Muslim ruler who defeated Christian invaders