"The Empire Expands, Pt 2"

Front

What led to opposition against the Umayyad caliphs during the 700s?

Back

Arab Muslims had the best jobs and paid lower taxes, which angered many non-Arab Muslims. Many thought the Umayyads were not good religious leaders anymore and too fond of wealth and power.

Front

What happened to the Umayyad family after their overthrow?

Back

A remnant of the Umayyad family escaped to Spain and reestablished their rule in Córdoba, (Muslim Spain) known as al-Andalus.

Front

How did early Abbasid caliphs promote learning?

Back

They sent scholars to Greece, Rome, Persia, and India to collect writings on medicine, science, and beliefs, and set up an academy to translate these texts into Arabic.

Front

Why is the Abbasid period called the Golden Age of Islam?

Back

Many achievements in learning and culture were made under Abbasid rule, supported by wealth gained through trade.

Front

How did the Abbasids maintain power?

Back

They built a huge standing army and stationed units throughout the empire to quickly address trouble.

Front

What policy did the Abbasids use to gain acceptance?

Back

They declared all Muslims equal and encouraged Christians and Jews to serve in the government to involve talented people in running the empire.

Front

What led to the decline of Abbasid rule?

Back

Territories broke free, caliphs ignored responsibilities, trade suffered due to bandit attacks, and higher taxes made people upset.

Front

Who were the Seljuk Turks and what did they do in 1055?

Back

The Seljuk Turks were nomads and warriors from central Asia who seized Baghdad in 1055, taking control of the government and army while leaving religious matters to the Abbasid caliph.

Front

What marked the end of the Arab Empire?

Back

In 1258, the Mongols stormed Baghdad, burned buildings, killed over 50,000 people, and ended the Arab Empire.