Q4: Lesson #3 - Islam's Impact on the World

We'll take 15 minutes to let you get organized, but then we'll get started with the two groups.

First, the group responsible for Section 2, "Islam Expands," and DBQ #6, "Spread of Islamic Civilization," will be addressing this question: How did Islamic civilization spread so widely and so quickly?

Second, the group responsible for Section 3, "Muslim Culture," and DBQ #7, "Islamic Culture: Its Contributions to World Culture," will be addressing this question: What were the most important Islamic contributions to world culture and knowledge?

As a reminder, each group will be expected to do the following:

* Introduce us to the most important points and information from the section in the textbook. (You might think in terms of five central points or something like that.)

* Discuss the specific documents you were assigned and explain how they link to the "big question" and what they can teach us.

* Develop a position on the "big question" that you can communicate effectively to us. (You might think of this as "talking an essay" to us that addresses your particular issue.

Each group can receive up to 10 points.

How did Islamic civilization spread so widely and so quickly?
* Section 2 - "Islam Expands"
* DBQ #6 - "Spread of Islamic Civilization"

Defining terms: caliph, jihad, "rightly guided," Umayyads, Shi'a, Sunni, Sufi, Abbasids

Key events:
632: death of Muhammad
632-634: Abu-Bakr rules as caliph
Umar, Uthman and Ali rules as caliphs
661: Ali is assassinated
Umayyads rule - shift to Damascus
732 - Muslims defeated at Battle of Tours (200 miles from Paris)
750 - Abbasids take control of empire - shift to Baghdad

What were the most important Islamic contributions to world culture and knowledge?
* Section 3 - "Muslim Culture"
* DBQ #7 - "Islamic Culture: Its Contributions to World Culture"

Defining terms: House of Wisdom

HOMEWORK for tomorrow: Thursday, April 3rd

For tomorrow, you should read any sections from Chapter 10 that you have not already read. For most of you, it will be 10.2 or 10.3, depending on which group you were in today.

We'll begin Chapter 11 Friday, so please read 11.1, "The Byzantine Empire," for that day. (I'll be asking you to read the two remaining sections over the weekend, so you could get a start on that.)