Islamic Empire

Islamic Empire

After Muhammed died, Muslim rulers, called caliphs, led the Arabs. Islam was their religion.

Multiple Choice

Who were the caliphs?

• farmers

• Muslim rulers

• Kings

Their holy book said that Muslims must fight to spread their religion to new lands. Sometimes they fought battles. Sometimes that worked to get people to accept Islam.

Multiple Choice

What did their holy book say that Muslims must do?

• Find gold

• fight to spread their religion to new lands

• go on a journey

The Islamic Empire is also called the Arab Empire. It lasted from about 600 to 1258. Islam was one of the largest and most powerful empires in the world.

Multiple Choice

What was Islam

• an ocean

• one of the largest and most powerful empires in the world

• a language

The Umayyads and the Abbasids were the most powerful ruling families of the empire.

Multiple Choice

Who were the Umayyads and Abbasids?

• brothers

• friends

• powerful ruling families

Umayyads

They ruled from 661 to 750; took over lands from Spain to India; the capital was Damascus; huge rich empire!

Non-Arabs had fewer rights. People who did not change their religion to Islam had to pay extra taxes.

Multiple Choice

Who had fewer rights?

• Children

• Non-Arabs

• women

Abbasids

Shiites and non-Arab Muslims teamed up and took over the Umayyads in 750; the capital was Baghdad; the empire became weak. Mongols took over in 1258. They destroyed schools, libraries and palaces. Many Muslims were killed. As time passed, many Mongols married locals. They also accepted the Islamic religion.

Multiple Choice

Who took over the Umayyads?

• Spanish

• non-Arab Muslims

• French