U2L11 - Muslim Innovations and Adaptations

The spreading of ideas and ways of life is called cultural

• adaptation.

• • diffusion.

• innovation.

• evolution.

Which of the following is a true statement that supports the idea that scholarship and learning were very highly valued in Islamic culture?

• Muslim scholars regularly traveled to European universities to undertake their research.

• • Wealthy Muslim families sent their sons to Greece, India, and China to complete their education.

• Universities and libraries in Muslim cities attracted scholars from many lands.

• • Only members of the elite ruling families in Muslim countries were allowed to read and write.

  
  

Which statement describes Baghdad during this time period?

• Baghdad was a primitive and impoverished Muslim settlement.

• Baghdad was a clean and tidy rural Muslim village.

• Baghdad was a once-glorious city that had suffered much during wartime.

• Baghdad was one of the most splendid Muslim cities.

How were mosques and cathedrals similar?

• They were both oriented toward the holiest cities of their faith.

• • They both provided mats and carpets for worshippers to sit on the floor.

• They both expressed the religious faith and the artistic heritage of their builders.

• They both made use of similar design styles and materials in their construction.

What advantage did acceptance of the Arabic language provide?

• Sharing the same language slowed down the process of cultural diffusion.

• Muslim and Christian leaders all spoke the same language and could work together for peace.

• Scholars in Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East could share ideas more easily.

• The Arabic language could express philosophical ideas more precisely than any other language.

Like the ancient Greeks, Muslim philosophers tried to prove important truths using

• religious faith.

• reason and logic.

• primary sources.

• intuition and opinion.

What impact did the work of Muslim astronomers have on religious practices?

• Astronomers cast doubt on many Muslim beliefs, and brought science and religion into conflict.

• Astronomers found proof that confirmed the teachings of the Qur'an about the world God made.

• Astronomers were so respected and so knowledgeable that many of them became imams.

• Astronomers helped Muslims know the exact time for prayers and the length of Ramadan.

How did Muslims use technology to meet the challenges of living in a dry land?

• They perfected techniques of cloud-seeding to create rain during periods of drought.

• They created a massive pipeline network to bring fresh water from Europe to the Middle East.

• They built dams and aqueducts to provide water for households, mills, and fields.

• They figured out how to take the salt out of seawater for irrigation and household use.

Which navigational instruments did Muslims adapt and perfect?

• the octant and the quadrant

• the compass and the astrolabe

• the chronometer and the ring dial

• the sounding line and the back staff

The Muslims' great experience with trade helped advance their knowledge of

(a)