Why Did Islam Spread So Quickly?
In order of Appearance
Hook
Cultural diffusion
The process by which an object or an idea from one culture spreads to different cultures
Mechanism
The process or system for achieving a result
Conquest
Use of military force to take over territory that belongs to others
Foreign
Outside of your own country
Migration
Movement from one country/place to another
Merchants
Sellers or traders of goods
Economic mobility
Opportunity to increase earning power
Background Essay
merchant
seller or trader of goods
the archangel Gabriel
The “exalted Messenger of God”, Gabriel appears in Muslim, Jewish, and Christian texts.
The archangel Gabriel spoke to Muhammad, saying that “Allah is the one true God”, laying
the foundations for Islam.
bustling
busy, energetic, noisy
caravan
a company of travelers on a journey; includes people, animals, vehicles, etc.
annual
happens each year
pilgrimage
a journey of a pilgrim, especially one to a shrine or a sacred place
pagan
heathen; one who has little or no religion and who delights in sensual pleasures and
material goods
Ka’ba
the holy shrine in Mecca
recite/reciting
to speak/read aloud publically
submit/submission
to yield to authority (in this case, the religious authority of Allah)
idol worship
praying to a picture, statue, or other inanimate object
symbolic/symbolically
expressing or representing an idea or quality without using words
opposition
actions or opinions that show that you disagree with or disapprove of someone or
something
the essential beliefs and duties of Muslims; every Muslim must submit to doing these 5
actions
Five Pillars
fast
a period of time when you do not eat any food; often for religious reasons
alms
money, clothes, food, and other things given to poor people
bedrock
a strong idea or principle
Document A
prosperous
successful in making a lot of money
lucrative
making money or wealth
market
a place where things are bought and sold
profit
money that is made in a business after all business costs are paid for
brisk
very active and steady
shrine
a place connected with a holy person or event where people go to worship
empire
a group of countries or regions controlled by one ruler or government
Byzantine
Persian
the eastern part of the ancient Roman Empire; its capital was located in Constantinople,
which is the modern day city of Istanbul, Turkey
An ancient middle eastern empire that began in the country now known as Iran
Silk Road
An ancient trade route from China to the Mediterranean Sea
Document B
devout
really loyal and/or religious
sincere
honest, showing true feelings
patient
calm, not annoyed, when you have to wait
humble
not thinking you are better than others; not proud
charitable
showing kindness; helps other (charity)
chaste
morally pure and decent; not sinful
fast
(to go for) a period of time when you do not eat any food; often for religious reasons
bestow
to give as a gift or honor
villainy
evil behavior or actions
deemed
considered; judged
“do good works”
do the right (moral) thing
injustice
unfair treatment
devour
(in this context) take or destroy
unjust
not fair
bribe
to try to get someone to do something by giving or promising something they want (often
$$)
“take up arms”
(in this context) to use weapons against another person – “arms” are weapons
grant
give
victory
defeating your enemy/opponent
Document C
Islamic world
areas controlled by Islam(Muslims)
Unmayyad Caliph
member of a dynasty of caliphs based in Damascus that ruled from A.D. 661 to 750
Document D
Ghazu
raids against other (non-Arab) tribes
Ummah
Muslim community
inadequate
not enough
meager
small amount
outwardly
outside of
campaigns
a connected series of operations designed to bring about a particular result
plunder
to take someone else’s goods by force (as in war)
power vacuum
when there is not a strong leadership; often new leaders take over when there is a power
vacuum
Persia
ancient Iran
Byzantium
ancient Istanbul (in Turkey)
Document E
circa (975 CE)
around (975 CE); “CE” means “current era” (formerly “A.D.”)
ordinances
laws
caliph
an important Muslim political and religious leader
imam
a Muslim religious leader (like a Christian preacher/priest)
delegate
to give responsibility to someone else
excerpt
a piece of a bigger text
“public duties”
responsibilities to the community
maintain
to continue without changing
“established principles”
agreed upon rules and standards
consensus
idea that is agreed upon by the group
dubious
doubtful
deviates
does something that is unusual or unexpected
“clarify the proofs of
religion”
explain the rules/expectations of the religion
expound
explain; give details about
safeguarded
safe/secure
“execute judgments”
hear the cases for and decide the outcome
disputes
disagreements
contestants
people who are disagreeing
prevail
win
commit
to do; i.e., “to commit a crime”
suffer
experience something unpleasant
injustice
unfair treatment
intrusion
going into a place where you are not welcome or wanted
livelihood
how you make a living (pay for food, rent, other essentials)
enforce
make sure people do what they are supposed to; i.e., “to enforce the law”
penalties
punishments
commandments
important rules given by God (Allah)
violation
doing something not allowed; breaking a law
preservation
keeping something in original condition
wage
to start and continue (a war, battle, etc.)
persist
to continue to do something even when it is difficult
pact
written agreement
Document F
origin
the beginning of something
expansion
becoming bigger
Moslem
another way of spelling Muslim; someone who follow the religion of Islam
fierce
very violent
flight
running away in order to get away from danger
Allah
the Arabic word for God
refund
to give back money that someone used to pay for something
inhabitant
a person who lives in a particular place
tax
an amount of money the government makes people pay; the government usually uses tax
money to pay for thing the government does
oppression
to treat people in a mean and unfair way
tyranny
a government in which all power belongs to one person
repulse
to force someone to stop attacking you
unbeliever
a person who does not believe in a particular religious faith, like Islam