Topic 2 Test Review

Read the passage below. How did the formation of the umma in Medina affect social conditions among Arabs during the time of Muhammad’s hijra?

"The hijra was a turning point for Islam. In Medina, local people welcomed Muhammad and agreed to follow his teachings. They became a community of Muslims, or umma."

• The economy collapsed because idol worship was forbidden.
• Tensions and rivalries among family clans rose.
• Tensions and rivalries among family clans declined.
• It helped persuade Meccan leaders to adopt Islam.

What belongs in the empty box?

• Abbasid caliphate formed.
• Abbasid caliphate declines.
• First four caliphates consolidate power.
• Mongol invasions challenge Muslim empire.

Which belongs only under the Shiites portion of the diagram?

• Rule by any good Muslim
• qualified rulers    takeover after leader dies
• Monotheism and rejection of idols
• Muhammad last and greatest prophet

What should be categorized under a.) Mathematics, and what should be listed under b.) Technology?

• a.) development of algebra, b.) calligraphy

• a.) use of arches and domes, b.) Firdawsi

• a.) Indo-Arabic numerals, b.) astrolabe improvements

• a.) Omar Khayyám, b.) mind-body connection

What can you infer from this passage about Shah Abbas’ rule of the Safavid empire?  

“Shah ‘Abbas was among the most innovative and intriguing figures of early modern Iran. In addition to establishing the magnificent city of Isfahan as a world capital through a dynamic reconfiguration of its architectural and urban design, he transformed Iran into the destination of ambassadors and travelers from the far reaches of Europe and Asia; it was documented in travelogues, epistles [letters], and prints. Safavid Iran, therefore, was known for its robust economy, diverse population, and the dynamism of cities such as Isfahan. The cultural landscape was similarly rich, with the architectural, visual, and literary arts mobilized in the service of the ingenious ruler’s imperial vision.”—Kishwar Rizvi, The Suggestive Portrait of Shah ‘Abbas: Prayer and Likeness in a Safavid Shahnama

• He reestablished the former glory of the Persian empire through ruthlessness and absolute power.
• He was primarily focused on military success over cultural and economic prosperity.
• He was unable to rule successfully due to constant warfare with the rival Ottoman empire.
• He helped restore a cultural golden age similar to the ancient Persian empire through enlightened rule.

What phenomenon is the passage describing?
"Over thousands of years, the migration of people throughout Africa contributed to the continent's rich diversity of cultures. Scholars have traced these migrations by studying language patterns. They have learned, for example, that West African farmers and herders migrated to the south and east between about 1000 B.C. and A.D. 1000. Like the Indo-European peoples of Europe and Asia, these West African peoples spoke a variety of languages deriving from a single common language."

• the multicultural formulation of the Swahili language
• the influence of the gold-salt trade on population patterns
• the significant cultural effects of the Bantu migrations
• the cultural impact Islam had on native Africans

A _____ of salt could be traded as a _____ in order to build and spread wealth among West African kingdoms.

• commodity , resource
• surplus , commodity
• caravan , surplus
• resource , caravan

Read the passage and use context clues to complete the statement that follows.  
"Muhammad was troubled by the moral ills of Meccan society, especially greed. He often went to a cave in the hills near Mecca to meditate. According to Muslim belief, when he was about 40 years old he heard the voice of the angel Gabriel calling him to be the messenger of God. Muhammad was terrified and puzzled. How could he, an illiterate merchant, become the messenger of God? [His wife] Khadija encouraged him to accept the call."
 This passage predicts that...

• Muhammad established the first caliphate.
• Muhammad began to urge Arabs to give up pagan gods and worship the one true God.
• Muhammad won the loyalty of his first converts.
• Muhammad first formulated the Five Pillars.

Which answer best categorizes the importance of the items listed in the chart?

• commandments from each of the five books comprising the holy Quran
• duties common to Islam, Judaism, and Christianity
• the fundamental duties comprising the Pillars of Islam
• the most important laws comprising Islamic Sharia

What events caused the decline of the Abbasid dynasty?

• The Abbasids willingly gave up their lands to the Seljuk Turks and the Mongols.
• The Abbasid empire fragmented, and other peoples gained control.
• The invaders from Spain created small kingdoms throughout the former empire.
• The Umayyads and the Abbasids waged a civil war that destroyed the empire.