Question 1

What process created the most significant agricultural revolution in world history between the adoption of sedentary agriculture and the European discovery of the Americas?

Accepted Answer

The transfer of crops from India to the Middle East and the Mediterranean basin created the most significant agricultural revolution in world history between the adoption of sedentary agriculture and the European discovery of the Americas. This transfer provided new crops like rice, sugarcane, and cotton, as well as new techniques for irrigation and cultivation that significantly boosted agricultural productivity across the region.

Question 2

Through their conquests and settlement of diverse climatic regions and the establishment of vast trading networks, the Arabs served as catalysts for ____________.

Accepted Answer

The establishment of vast trading networks and conquest and settlement of diverse climatic regions helped to spread agricultural techniques and increase food production, leading to an agricultural revolution.

Question 3

The Muslim day of communal worship is

Accepted Answer

Friday is the Muslim day of communal worship, known as Jumu'ah. On this day, Muslims gather in mosques for congregational prayer and to listen to a sermon (khutbah) delivered by the imam.

Question 4

With whom did Muhammad associate the origins of the shrine Ka'ba in Mecca?

Accepted Answer

According to Islamic tradition, the shrine of Ka'ba was first built by the Prophet Abraham and his son Ishmael as a place of worship for one God. Muhammad later restored it as a center of Islamic worship.

Question 5

Muslims who believed that the successors to Muhammad should come from within his own family and who believed Muhammad chose his son-in-law and cousin, Ali, to succeed him as caliph are _____________.

Accepted Answer

Those who believe in the succession of Ali as caliph are known as Shi'as. They believe that leadership of the Muslim community should be in the hands of the descendants of Muhammad's cousin and son-in-law, Ali. This belief is a fundamental tenet of Shi'a Islam. Sunnis believe that succession should be determined by consensus among the community, while Wahhabis are a particular conservative sect within Sunni Islam.

Question 6

The Five Pillars of Faith include prayer, fasting, the pilgrimage to Mecca, alms (charity), and __________.

Accepted Answer

The Five Pillars of Faith in Islam are prayer, fasting, the pilgrimage to Mecca, alms (charity), and the proclamation of faith (also known as the declaration of faith or shahada). Jihad and adherence to shari'ah are central to Islamic beliefs and practices, but they are not considered one of the Five Pillars. The sunnah is the example of the teachings and actions of the Prophet Muhammad and is an important source of Islamic law, but it is also not one of the Five Pillars.

Question 7

In 1258 the Mongol invasions destroyed ____________, which was formerly an important center of commercial and intellectual life, as well as the symbolic center of Islam at the time.

Accepted Answer

The Mongol invasions destroyed Baghdad in 1258, which was formerly an important center of commercial and intellectual life, as well as the symbolic center of Islam at the time. Mecca and Medina are both located in present-day Saudi Arabia and were not destroyed by the Mongols. Damascus, although also conquered by the Mongols, was not as significant as Baghdad in terms of Islamic cultural and intellectual history.

Question 8

In 1260, which forces defeated the Mongols?

Accepted Answer

The Mamluks, who were a Muslim slave dynasty in Egypt, defeated the Mongols at the Battle of Ain Jalut in 1260. This was a significant victory because the Mongols had previously been undefeated in battle and had conquered much of the Middle East and Central Asia.

Question 9

At the beginning of the ninth century, which city was under the Abbasid administration?

Accepted Answer

At the beginning of the ninth century, Samarkand was under the Abbasid administration. The Abbasid Caliphate, which moved its capital to Baghdad in 762, expanded its influence into Central Asia, including cities like Samarkand, which became important centers of trade, culture, and Islamic scholarship during this period.

Question 10

During the Abbasid Empire, high Islamic society's intellectual adventures were limited to poetry and the arts.

Accepted Answer

Scholars, mathematicians, chemists, physicians and others were recruited by Abbasid administrators and made appearances in high courts. These individuals were responsible for contributing to advancements in fields such as mathematics, medicine, astronomy, and architecture. The translation of Greek philosophical works also occurred during this time. Therefore, option A, C, and D are incorrect.

Question 11

Which city came to be seen as a global center of commerce, art, and intellect between the ninth and thirteenth centuries?

Accepted Answer

During the Islamic Golden Age, which lasted from the 8th to the 13th century, Baghdad was the center of the Islamic world and became a hub of art, culture, and learning. It was home to renowned scholars, including philosophers, mathematicians, astronomers, and physicians. Additionally, Baghdad was an important center of commerce, as it was located at the crossroads of several trade routes.

Question 12

The Abbasid conquests of diverse climatic regions and the establishment of vast trading networks led to which of the following developments?

Accepted Answer

The establishment of vast trading networks and the conquest of diverse climatic regions led to the growth of large urban centers, the development of an international market, and an agricultural revolution. Therefore, option D is the best choice.

Question 13

Which of the following does NOT accurately describe the Islamic concept of jihad?

Accepted Answer

Jihad is not one of the five pillars of faith in Islam. The five pillars of faith are Shahada (declaration of faith), Salat (prayer), Zakat (charity), Sawm (fasting), and Hajj (pilgrimage to Mecca).

Question 14

Muslims believe that Muhammad is:

Accepted Answer

Muslims believe that Muhammad is the last prophet of God. He is not considered to be a physical manifestation of God, but rather a human being who received divine revelation and guidance from Allah. Muslims believe that the message brought by Muhammad is the final and complete revelation from God, and that his teachings should be followed as a guide for all aspects of life.

Question 15

Which of the following most accurately describes Sufism?

Accepted Answer

Sufism began as an ascetic movement among individuals who opposed the worldliness of the Umayyad court.

Question 16

Which of the following men is considered the first prophet in Islam?

Accepted Answer

Abraham is recognized as the first prophet in Islam, with his role and story deeply embedded in Islamic tradition, predating Muhammad who is considered the last prophet.

Question 17

Which of the following made significant scholarly contributions to revitalizing ancient Greek works during the reign of al-Ma'mun?

Accepted Answer

Ibn Rushd, also known as Averroes, was a medieval Andalusian polymath who made significant contributions to philosophy and Islamic thought by commenting on and revitalizing ancient Greek philosophy, particularly the works of Aristotle.

Question 18

Paper manufacturing spread throughout the world of Islam in the late eighth century by way of:

Accepted Answer

The spread of paper manufacturing throughout the Islamic world in the late eighth century is attributed to the Arab victory over a Chinese naval force at the Battle of Talas in 751 AD. This event led to the capture of Chinese papermakers, who then shared their knowledge with the Islamic world, significantly impacting its cultural and intellectual development.

Question 19

The majority of Shi'a Muslims believe:

Accepted Answer

The majority of Shi'a Muslims believe in the concept of the Twelfth Imam, who disappeared in the ninth century and is expected to return before Judgment Day. This belief is known as the doctrine of the Imam Mahdi or the Hidden Imam. The other options are not commonly held beliefs among Shi'a Muslims.

Question 20

Which of the following empires is seen as having set the stage for the Ottomans later coming to power in Anatolia?

Accepted Answer

The Seljuks ruled over Anatolia before the Ottomans and their decline and fragmentation allowed for the rise of the Ottomans.

Quiz 2: The Development of Islamic Civilization to the Fifteenth Century