Name: _________________________________________
Period:________
Date: ____________________
Rise of Islam Map Directions
Directions: Complete the following tasks using your text book. Do not color the map unless specifically told to
shade. Instead label using the colors provided.
1. Title the map "Rise of Islam" (2pts)
2. Label the map as follows:
a. bodies of water [blue]: (8pts)
Arabian Sea, Mediterranean Sea, Persian Gulf, Red Sea, Caspian Sea, Black Sea, Aral Sea
b. bodies of water [blue]: (6pts)
Nile River, Euphrates, Tigris, Indus, Danube
c. landforms [brown]: (7pts)
Caucasus Mts., Hindu Kush, Plateau of Iran, Atlas Mts., Syrian Desert, Arabian Desert
d. cities [black]: (16pts)
Damascus, Jerusalem, Cairo, Alexandria, Mecca, Medina, Baghdad, Kabul, Kadisiya, Basra, Tripoli,
Constantinople, Rome, Seville, Antioch
e. Muslim Expansion [follow each items specific directions]: (15pts/5pts each)
1. Shade your map to show the Muslim Expansion; use the following: [fill in the boxes on your map too!]
Islamic lands at Muhammad’s Death, 632 AD [Red/shade]
Territory added 633-661 AD [Orange/shade]
Territory added 662-750 [Yellow/shade]
3. Answer the following questions using your map and textbook: (60pts/5pts each)
1. Find the distance from Mecca to the following cities (answer in miles)
a. Jerusalem: _____________
b. Baghdad: _____________
c. Rome: ______________
d. Constantinople: ____________
e. Seville: ____________
2. Which river is completely within the Muslim lands of 661 AD?
3. Name the body of water that allowed trade to naturally occur between the Arabian Peninsula and the
East Coast of Africa.
4. Why aren’t there large cities in the southeastern part of the Arabian Peninsula?
5. Name the span of years that saw the greatest expansion of the Muslim Empire. (Justify your answer)
6. What physical feature, which lies between two large bodies of water, is the northern border to the
Muslim Empire?
7. How does the Muslim Empire’s geographic location encourage its people to be merchants/traders?
8. On what peninsula did the Muslim Empire begin?
9. What is the area between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers named?
10. Of the cities that you plotted on your map, which two do not fall within the Muslim Empire by 750 AD?
11. How many years after Muhammad’s death did it take for the Muslim Empire to reach its fullest extent?
12. Predict how the expansion of the Muslim empire into Northern Africa and Asia will affect that area’s
historical development.
3. ANSWER KEY FOR THE QUESTIONS
1. Find the distance from Mecca to the following cities (answer in miles) the answers are approximations
a. Jerusalem: 750
b. Baghdad: 1200
c. Rome: 2200
d. Constantinople: 1500
e. Seville: 2900
2. Which river is completely within the Muslim lands of 661 AD?
a. Tigris
3. Name the body of water that allowed trade to naturally occur between the Arabian Peninsula and the
East Coast of Africa.
a. Red Sea
4. Why aren’t there large cities in the southeastern part of the Arabian Peninsula?
a. Because of the Arabian Desert
5. Name the span of years that saw the greatest expansion of the Muslim Empire. (Justify your answer)
a. 633-661: Most land area conquered during that time period
6. What physical feature, which lies between two large bodies of water, is the northern border to the
Muslim Empire?
a. Caucasus Mountains
7. How does the Muslim Empire’s geographic location encourage its people to be merchants/traders?
a. Location to many water ways allowing it to reach other civilizations easily
8. On what peninsula did the Muslim Empire begin?
a. Arabian Peninsula
9. What is the area between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers named?
a. Mesopotamia
10. Of the cities that you plotted on your map, which two do not fall within the Muslim Empire by 750 AD?
a. Rome and Constantinople
11. How many years after Muhammad’s death did it take for the Muslim Empire to reach its fullest extent?
a. 118 years
12. Predict how the expansion of the Muslim empire into Northern Africa and Asia will affect that area’s
historical development.
a. Answers will vary but should include something about religion, language and possibly
architecture or other customs.