Situated in Mecca, this black stone/meteorite was the most revered shrine in Arabia before the founding of Islam. It is now of significance to Islam’s 5th pillar.

• Feudalism

• Ka’aba

• Umma

• Sultan

Nomadic (horsemen) invaders from Central Asia via Persia. They were Sunni Muslims who accepted the rule of the Abbasid Dynasty before serving as guardians during the Abbasid decline. They would eventually establish their own dominance in the Middle East.

• Seljuk Turks

• Silk Roads

• Stirrups

• Minaret

Mongol Dynasty centered in the Middle East (Iran & Iraq) started by Hulegu, who is the grandson of Genghis Khan.

• Jizya

• Yurt

• Dhimmi

• II - Khanate

Relating to monks, nuns, or others living under religious vows, or the buildings in which they live.

• Mamluks

• Guilds

• Ka’aba

• Monastic

Chinese dynasty that was founded by the Mongolian ruler Kublai Khan.

• Arabesque

• Excommunication

• Yuan Dynasty

• Sharia

A philosophy that blended Confucianism and Buddhist thought

• Syncretism

• Battle of Tours

• Hijra

• Neo-Confucianism

A non-muslim living within an Islamic state who was protected.

• Dhimmi

• Dynasty

• Al-Andalus

• Tribute

A network of sea and land-based trade routes that connected Europe, Asia and parts of northeast Africa.

• Khanate

• Pope

• Silk Roads

• Griots

A series of rulers from the same family.

• Astrolabe

• Bazaar

• Mit’a

• Dynasty

A political, economic, and social system based on the relationship between lord and vassal in order to provide protection.

• Secular

• Feudalism

• Golden Horde

• Gyre