World History: Islamic Civilization & Golden Age

What are the five core acts of worship in Islam that provide a framework for a Muslim's life?

The Five Pillars of Islam (Shahada, Salat, Zakat, Sawm, and Hajj).

What is the name of the holy book of Islam, believed to be the verbatim word of God as revealed to Muhammad?

The Quran (or Koran).

What event in 622 CE marks the migration of Muhammad and his followers from Mecca to Medina?

The Hijra.

Located in Baghdad, what was the major intellectual center during the Islamic Golden Age where scholars translated Greek texts?

The House of Wisdom (Bayt al-Hikma).

Which Persian mathematician is known as the 'father of algebra' for his influential 9th-century work?

Muhammad ibn Musa al-Khwarizmi.

Because of the prohibition of idols, what artistic form of decorative writing became highly developed in Islamic culture?

Calligraphy.

Why was the Rashidun Caliphate significant in the early history of Islam?

It refers to the first four 'Rightly Guided' caliphs who expanded Islamic territory and established administrative foundations after Muhammad's death.

What was a primary characteristic of the Umayyad Caliphate's expansion and administration?

They established a vast empire centered in Damascus, favoring Arab elites and expanding as far as Spain and the Indus Valley.

How did the shift of the capital from Damascus to Baghdad under the Abbasids affect the empire?

It moved the focus eastward, integrated Persian administrative styles, and fostered a cosmopolitan environment conducive to the Golden Age.

What was the significance of Ibn Sina’s (Avicenna) 'The Canon of Medicine'?

It served as the standard medical textbook in both the Islamic world and Europe for centuries, synthesizing Greek and Islamic medical knowledge.