Islam: An Empire of Faith

1- In what regions of the world did Islam spread from the 7th to the 15th century?

2- Name the four successors of Prophet Muhammad.

3- Identify the following terms:

a- Qur`an b-Hadith c- Jahiliyya

d- Hijra e-Fiqh f- Sunni
g- Shi`ite

4- Was there a great uniformity or similarity in the political and social life of
Muslims during the medieval period? Explain.

5- Compare the image of Islamic society that is portrayed in the film with the
modern one that comes across in the current media and in Hollywood films.

6- What are some of the mathematical and scientific achievements of the Arab-
Islamic civilization in the Medieval and pre-modern period?

7- Under what conditions did most Christians and Jews live in Islamic Spain?
Where they allowed practicing their religion freely? Where they able to rise to
important political ranks? What form of intellectual exchange did the three
religious communities have?

8- The Crusades were militant Christian expeditions to liberate Christian land from
Muslim occupation and to enhance the cultural and educational quality of
Christian life in Palestine (Jerusalem). True of False?

9- Did the European carry an Islamic? Arabic identity? In other words, was Islam an
Asian or Middle Eastern or European phenomenon? Explain.

10- What aspects of Arab-Islamic civilization, portrayed in the film, which you found
surprising?