Ch. 6 & 7 Discussion
Questions
AP World History
1. Identify how Islam Addressed the
fundamental problems in Arabian society.

Islam gave them a form of monotheism that
belonged to no single tribe and transcended clan
and class distinctions. It provided a religion that
was distinctly Arab in origin and yet equal to the
monotheistic faiths held by Christians and Jews
who lived among them. So it stopped the
feuding between the tribes and undermined
their attempts to overthrow the neighboring
empires. It gave them the unity necessary to
conquer North Africa, parts of Europe, and
Persia.
2. Trace the succession dispute over the
office of caliph.

Muhammad left no clear successor. The position fell to
Abu Bakr (Muhammad’s close friend). After the
execution of the third caliph, Ali (Muhammad’s cousin
and son-in-law) tried to become the caliph, but the
Umayyad rejected his claims because he failed to punish
the assassin. They went to war and would have won but
he accepted pleas for mediation, which caused some of
his most loyal supporters to renounce him. The
Umayyad appointed someone else as caliph and Ali was
assassinated. His son was pressured by the Umayyad to
reject his claim to caliphate. After Ali’s second son was
killed the wars continued. The decision still remains the
biggest difference in Islam today.
3. Compare the Abbasid Empire to the
Umayyad Empire.


Umayyad – Capital was Damascus. Empire was built on
conquest. Small Arab population ruled as an aristocracy
(made up bulk of army and received booty).
Abandoned frugal living and became addicted to luxury
and soft living. Not interested in conversion and number
of actual conversions was low. Expanded into North
Africa, Europe, and Persia. Only Arabs were considered
first class Muslims. Recognized Dhimmis.
Abbasid – Capital was Baghdad. There were disputes
over succession. Too much money was spent on
slave/mercenary armies, rebellions, and lavish living.
Fully embraced converts and accepted them as first class
Muslims. Empire became too large. Caliph became a
puppet of the Persian or Turkish sultans. Became less
tolerant of Shi’a sects. Had to deal with invasions by
Buyids, Turks, and Mongols. Zenith of Islamic culture.
4. Compare the initial spread of Islam throughout
the Mediterranean and the Middle East with the
Islamic incursions into India and southeast Asia.

Most of the first expansion in the Mediterranean
region and the Middle East was by Arabian
tribesman. The government under the
Umayyads retained the initial concept of rule by
a small Arab elite; full citizenship for the Mawali
was denied. The Abbasid gave full citizenship to
non-Arabs. The second stage of Islamic
expansion was led by non-Arabs. The presence
of Sufi missionaries made for a more peaceful
expansion and to less restrictive forms of Islam.
Converts, as in the Delhi sultanate, retained
many of their previous Hindu beliefs and social
systems.
5. Describe the political, cultural, and economic
characteristics of the Abassid Empire.

In political organization, the Abassids suffered
from a loss of central authority and a growth of
regional dynasties. There were many revolts by
Shi’a, mercenary armies, and peasants. The
dynasty crumbled from the incursions of the
Buyids, Seljuk Turks, and Mongols. The Abbasid
economy depended on agriculture and trade.
Agriculture required irrigation and this failed
under the later dynasty. Cities grew and
prospered, long distance trade reached into
India and southeast Asia. In culture, the
Abassids were the zenith of Islamic civilization,
with advances in science, mathematics, and
philosophy.
6. Evaluate the weakness of the Abassid Empire
and describe the position of women in the Abassid
Empire.


Rebellious governors and new dynasties
wanted to challenge the Abassid rulers.
The empire couldn’t be held together. It
was very diverse.
Women were separated from men. Their
social status declined. Some were married
at age nine and remained housewives
pretty much their entire lives.