Review Sheet for History 101, Examination #3

Dr. Michael Lewis

Part I:            

Hagar and Ishmael                    Ghazni Empire                                      Pax Tatarica

A’isha                                      Tang Dynasty                                       Marco Polo

Isra and Mi’raj                         Neo-Confucianism                                Goliath Spring

Rashidan caliphs                       Charlemagne                                        Tamerlane

Umar                                        Carolingian Rennaissance                      Yuan Dynasty

Muhammad Ali                         Vikings                                                 Flagellants

Ummayad Caliphate                 Feudalism                                             The Black Death

Shi’a                                        Lord-Vassal Relationship                      The Decamaron

Abbasid Caliphate                    Serfs                                                    Renaissance Art

Harun al’Rashid                        First Crusade                                        Hadith

Sufism                                      Peter the Hermit                                   Hulegu

Avicenna                                  Temujin                                                Kamikaze

Seljuk Turks                             Yela Zhucai                                          Mirandola

Swahili                                     Ogodei                                                 Omar Khayyam

Mansa Musa                            The Golden Horde                                Yathrib

Pact of Umar                           Kublai Khan                                         Ka’aba

 

Part II: Sample Essay questions

1.)                Discuss the meteoric assent of first the Muslim empire (conquering much of the world) then the Mongolian empire.   What similarities and differences do you see in the way that they came to such an influential global position?  What world factors made it possible?  How did these successful empires (and their military beginnings) differ from the European attempt at a world empire, known as the Crusades?

2.)                Discuss the process whereby Islam moved from a religion to a basis for a global empire.  Pay particular attention to the impact of political/social factors on the practice and belief structures of Islam as it developed from 600-1400 CE.

3.)                Do you agree or disagree, based on your knowledge of the history of the Muslim world from 600-1400, that (as internationally respected columnist Thomas Friedman says) “Although there is a deep moral impulse in Islam for justice, charity, and compassion, Islam has not [and never has] developed a dominant religious philosophy that allows equal recognition of alternative faith communities.”  Friedman goes on to claim that there has not been a Muslim state that has accepted secularism and religious pluralism. (Of course he is writing in the context of the contemporary world, but he is making a historical argument – so he is fair game for this class on the pre-modern world).

4.)        Compare and contrast the impacts of the Muslim and Mongolian empires from the Middle Ages on world history, as discussed thus far in class.  How are these empires linked to things such as the Renaissance, the Black Death, or subsequent civilizations in China, India, or Africa? 

5.)         From your experience of History 101, what might the modern world learn from pre-modern history? You might think of this as answering a question from your Mom or Dad over the Winter break: "So, you had to take this history class. What did you learn that you can apply to your life, or did I just waste some tuition money?"  (if your impulse is to answer yes, then you probably ought not choose this question!)

6.)        Using Islam as your primary example, but also drawing as appropriate from other religious traditions and histories, is it possible for a religious empire to  maintain religious purity, or do the constraints and opportunities of controlling an empire begin to change religious practices and create greater openness to alternative ways of seeing the world?