| 7552423744 | Abbasid Caliphate | Dynasty of caliphs who ruled increasingly fragmented Islamic state from 750 to 1258, eventually becoming little more than figureheads |  | 0 |
| 7552423747 | Al-Andalus | Arabic name for Spain (literally "the land of the Vandals"), most of which was conquered by Arab and Berber forces in the early 3rd century CE |  | 1 |
| 7552475903 | Anatolia | Ancient Name of Asia Minor, part of the Byzantine Empire that was gradually overrun by the Turks and that now is the Republic of Turkey |  | 2 |
| 7552484599 | Battle of Talas River | Arab victory over the Chinese in 751 CE that checked Chinese expansion to the west and enabled the conversion of Central Asia to Islam |  | 3 |
| 7552491828 | Bedouins | Nomadic Arabs |  | 4 |
| 7552494490 | dhimmis | "Protected Subjects" under Islamic rule, non-Muslims who were allowed to practice their faith as "people of the book" in return for their paying special taxes |  | 5 |
| 7552502637 | al-Ghazali | Great Muslim theologian, legal scholar and Sufi mystic (1058-1111) who was credited with incorporating Sufism into mainstream Islamic thought. |  | 6 |
| 7552510244 | hadiths | Traditions passed on about the sayings or actions of Muhammad and his immediate followers; hadiths rand second only to the Quran as a source of Islamic law. | | 7 |
| 7552522559 | hajj | The pilgrimage to Mecca enjoined on every Muslim who is able to make the journey; one of the Five Pillars of Islam. |  | 8 |
| 7552530133 | hijra | The "flight" of Muhammad and his original 70 followers from Mecca to Yathrib (later Medina) in 622 CE; the journey marks the starting point of the Islamic calendar |  | 9 |
| 7552541106 | House of Wisdom | An academic center for research and translation of foreign texts that was established in Baghdad in 830 Ce by the Abbasid caliph al-Mamun |  | 10 |
| 7552551591 | Ibn Battuta | 14th century Arab traveler (1304-1368) who wrote about his extensive journeys throughout the Islamic world. |  | 11 |
| 7552557755 | Ibn Sina | One of the greatest polymaths of the Islamic world (980-1037), a Persian who wrote prolifically on scientific (especially medical) and philosophical issues; he is often known as "Avicenna", the Latinized form of his name. |  | 12 |
| 7552572141 | Imams | In Shia Islam, leaders with high religious authority; the twelve imams of early Shia Islam were Muhammad's nephew Ali and his descendants | | 13 |
| 7552582442 | jihad | Arabic for "struggle", this term describes both the spiritual striving of each Muslim toward a godly life and armed struggle against the forces of unbelief and evil | | 14 |
| 7552590225 | jizya | A special tax paid by dhimmis in Muslim-ruled territory in return for freedom to practice their own religion |  | 15 |
| 7552602122 | Kaaba | Great stone shrine in Mecca that was a major pilgrimage center for worshipers of many different deities before it was reconsecrated to monotheistic use by Muhammad |  | 16 |
| 7552615302 | madrassas | Formal colleges for higher instruction in the teachings of Islam as well as in secular subjects, founded throughout the Islamic world beginning in the 11th century CE. |  | 17 |
| 7552624238 | mecca | Key pilgrimage center |  | 18 |
| 7760612969 | Mozarabs | "Would-be Arabs" in Muslim-ruled Spain, referring to Christians who adopted much of Arabic culture and observed many Muslim practices without actually converting to Islam |  | 19 |
| 7760634118 | Muhammad Ibn Abdullah | The prophet of Islam 570-632 CE | | 20 |
| 7760636316 | Muslim | Literally, "one who submits"; name was adopted by Muhammad and his followers to describe their submission to God. |  | 21 |
| 7760647731 | Pillars of Islam | The five core practices required of Muslims: a profession of faith, regular prayer, charitable giving, fasting during Ramadan, and a pilgrimage to Mecca (if financially and physically possible) |  | 22 |
| 7760661780 | Marco Polo | The most famous European traveler of the Middle Ages (1254-1324) whose travel account of his time in China was widely popular in Europe. |  | 23 |
| 7760670696 | Rightly Guided Caliphs | The first four rulers of the Islamic world (632-661) after the death of Muhammad. Abu-Bakr, Umar, Uthman, Ali.. all knew Muhammad. used the Qur'an and Muhammad's actions as guides to their leadership which is why they are called this |  | 24 |
| 7760674224 | Quran | Also transliterated as Qur'an and Koran, this is the most holy text of Islam, recording the revelations given to the prophet Muhammad |  | 25 |
| 7760684036 | sharia | Islamic law, dealing with all matters of both secular and religious life. |  | 26 |
| 7760688223 | shaykhs | Sufi teachers who attracted a circle of disciples and often founded individual schools of Sufism. Leaders of tribes and clans with Bedouin society; usually men with large herds, several wives, and many children. Teachers in Islamic societies. |  | 27 |
| 7760695816 | Sikhism | A significant syncretic religion that evolved in India, blending elements of Islam and Hinduism founded by Guru Nanak (1469-1539) |  | 28 |
| 7760707381 | Sufis | Islamic mystics, many of whom were important missionaries of Islam in conquered lands and who were revered as saints | | 29 |
| 7760715954 | Sultanate of Delhi | Major Turkic Muslim state established in northern India in 1206. |  | 30 |
| 7760726383 | Timbuktu | Great city of West Africa, noted as a center of Islamic scholarship in the 14th to 16th centuries. |  | 31 |
| 7883548557 | ulama | Islamic religious scholars | | 32 |
| 7883555742 | Umayyad caliphate | Family of caliphs who ruled the Islamic world from 661 to 650 CE |  | 33 |
| 7883561079 | umma | The community of all believers in Islam | | 34 |
| 7883642658 | Quraysh | Dominant tribe in Mecca, tribe of which Muhammad was born | | 35 |
| 7883651046 | Sassanid Empire | The name of the last pre-Islamic Iranian empire. It was one of the two main powers in Western Asia for a period of more than 400 years (c. 200-600 CE) Was founded by Ardashir I after defeating the last Parthian king, in Persia, involving a revival of the Persian religion Zoroastrianism. Fought the Byzantines, which weakened them both. |  | 36 |
| 7883680943 | Allah | Arabic for "God"; the supreme good of Islam | | 37 |
| 7883688000 | Khadija | (555-620 CE) First wife of Muhammad and first to convert to Islam | | 38 |
| 7883700661 | Radical Monotheism | Muslim extremist belief in one deity | | 39 |
| 7883731957 | Yathrib | In 622 CE, after Khadija's death, Muhammad and his followers were forced to leave Mecca. They went to _____________, soon to be called Medina, where Muhammad was welcomed as a respected leader. |  | 40 |
| 7883745822 | Usury | The practice of lending money at high interest rates. Banned in many religions including Islam. |  | 41 |
| 7883798023 | Berbers | A historical ethnic group that inhabited a majority of Northern Africa, in the post-Classical Era. Fought against Muslim expansion |  | 42 |
| 7883833256 | Abu Bakr | (573-634 CE) Companion of 1st Muslim leader after Muhammad. Regarded by Sunni's as the 1st caliph and rightful successor. The Shi'ah regarded him as a traitor of Muhammad. Known as the best interpreter of dreams following Muhammad's death |  | 43 |
| 7883853429 | Uthman | (c. 644-656) 3rd successor of Muhammad. Launched attacks against the Byzantine & Sassanid empires. Asserted right of caliphs to protect economic interests of the entire umma. Publicized definitive texts of the Qur'an showing concern for umma's unity. From Mecca family that had resisted the Prophet until Mecca's capitulation in 630 CE. Aroused resentment by giving hist family special favors. Assassinated in 656 CE. |  | 44 |
| 7883899650 | Shia | A Muslim group that accepts only the descendants of Muhammad's son-in- law as the true rulers of Islam | | 45 |
| 7883915414 | Damascus | Ancient Islamic cultural center; capital of present-day Syria |  | 46 |
| 7883918726 | Rabia | (717-801 CE) Famous woman Sufi poet. Born a slave. master was so amazed with her spirituality he set her free. She then lived in solitude and began to write poetry |  | 47 |
| 7883935683 | Aisha | (613-678 CE) Mohammad's favorite wife and daughter of Abu Bakr | | 48 |
| 7883961568 | Umar | Succeeded Abu Bakr. 2nd Caliph. Not spiritual, but more of a military leader ("Commander of the faithful") Conquered Persia and almost the entire Eastern Roman Empire. Ensured loyalty of the conquered by being nice. Asked women to offer prayers at home and not in public. |  | 49 |
| 7883983011 | Mansur | Caliph from 754-775 CE. Carried separation of the sexes further in Islamic culture. |  | 50 |
| 7883998032 | Mullahs | Local mosque officials and prayer leaders within the Safavid Empire; agents of Safavid religious campaign to convert all of the population to Shi'ism | | 51 |
| 7884040582 | Kabir | Muslim mystic during 15th century. Played down the importance of ritual differences between Hinduism and Islam. |  | 52 |
| 7884051856 | Guru Nanak | (1469-1539 CE) Indian religious leader who founded Sikhism in dissent from the caste system of Hinduism |  | 53 |
| 7884061593 | Turks | Central Asian nomads related to the Xiongnu peoples that pressured Han China. Set up empires throughout Eurasia. Organized as tribes that constantly fought each other. Most converted to Islam. They were primarily herders, using animal products to live (skins, meat, milk, bones, dung, etc.) Not a large population because of limited water on the grasslands. Nobility was hereditary but could be lost through incompetence. Most societies sought to trade with settled people. Nobles controlled absolutely in times of war |  | 54 |
| 7884099849 | Ghana Empire | Empire in West Africa that grew rich and powerful through trade around 1050 CE located between the Niger and Senegal rivers, mostly farmers, resources gold an salt. |  | 55 |
| 7884109069 | Mali Empire | From 1235-1400 Ce, this was a strong empire of Western Africa. With its trading cities of Timbuktu and Gao, it had many mosques and universities. The Empire was ruled by two great rulers, Sundiata and Mansa Musa. The upheld a strong gold-salt trade. The fall of the empire was caused by the lack of strong rulers who could govern well. | | 56 |
| 7884126297 | Songhay Empire | Portion of Mali after that kingdom collapsed around 1500 CE. the empire controlled Timbuktu |  | 57 |
| 7884138765 | Sonni Ali | West African Monarch who ruled Songhai from 1464 CE to his death in 1492 CE. Known by all as one of the great military commanders, he is remembered in some stories as a wise and tolerant ruler, and a cruel dictator in others. Also remembered for having a 400 ship river based navy that controlled the trade along the entire Niger River. |  | 58 |
| 7884166367 | Great Mosque at Jenne-Jeno | Founded in the 13th Century CE; reconstructed in 1907. Islamic temple in Mali |  | 59 |
| 7884173915 | Cordoba | Capital of Muslim Andalusia (Spain); an economic center hundreds of workshops, culture and learning flourished there. |  | 60 |
| 7884202059 | Spanish Inquisition | A terrifying period of interrogation regarding heresy, in which many people were tortured, convicted and killed. This was spurred by fear of witches, heretics, Jews and Muslims and was a byproduct of the Reconquista c. 1492 CE. |  | 61 |
| 7884231609 | Canton | A small port city in southern China where Muslims were able to link the Islamic heartland with China |  | 62 |
