Dar-Al-Islam and Indian Ocean Trade

Based on the maps and your knowledge of world history, which of the following best describes the effect of the spread of Islam on Indian Ocean trade?

• It led to the expansion and intensification of commerce along already existing trade routes.

• It led to the disappearance of previously established trade networks.

• It led to an expansion of land-based caravan trade but also to a decline of maritime trade.

• It led to the first creation of trade links between previously isolated world regions.

Answer explanation

The spread of Islam facilitated trade by connecting diverse regions, enhancing existing trade routes across the Indian Ocean, and increasing commerce, rather than disrupting or diminishing established networks.

In the period 1000 to 1450, which of the following developments partially resulted from knowledge of Greek science and technology?

• Japanese temple design in Kyoto

• Christian theology in the Roman Empire

• Islamic medical books in Baghdad

• Mongol military tactics in Central Asia

• Inca bridge design in the Andes

Answer explanation

Islamic medical books in Baghdad were significantly influenced by Greek science and technology, as scholars translated and built upon ancient Greek texts, enhancing medical knowledge during this period.

The type of wall decoration illustrated above would most commonly be found in a

• stupa

• mosque

• cathedral

• temple

• marketplace

Answer explanation

The wall decoration style typically found in mosques features intricate geometric patterns and calligraphy, which are characteristic of Islamic art. This distinguishes it from the styles found in stupas, cathedrals, temples, or marketplaces.

As described in the passage, the cultural influences in Bukhara are most directly a legacy of which of the following?

• Greek and Muslim scholarship

• Chinese and Indian trade

• Roman and Byzantine architecture

• Persian and Ottoman governance

Answer explanation

The cultural influences in Bukhara stem primarily from Greek and Muslim scholarship, which shaped its intellectual and artistic heritage, making this the most direct legacy compared to the other options.

Interactions between Muslims and Hindus following the spread of Islam into northern India resulted in the spread of which of the following?

• The influence of Chinese culture and statecraft in the early caliphates

• Cross-cultural interactions following the spread of the Safavid Empire

• The role of western European merchants in bringing Classical Greco-Roman knowledge to the Muslim world

• A wide variety of ideas, philosophies, and scholarship across South and Central Asia as well as Southwest Asia

Answer explanation

The interactions between Muslims and Hindus led to a rich exchange of ideas, philosophies, and scholarship, significantly influencing South and Central Asia as well as Southwest Asia, making this the correct choice.

The religious differences between Ibn Sina and his father, as described in the first paragraph, most directly reflect the legacy of which of the following?

• A dispute over the legal status of non-Muslims

• A dispute over who was the rightful caliph

• A dispute over whether the Qur’an was literally the word of God

• A dispute over whether Mecca or Jerusalem was the holiest city in the Islamic world

Answer explanation

The religious differences between Ibn Sina and his father reflect a broader historical context of disputes over leadership in the Islamic community, particularly regarding who was the rightful caliph, influencing their beliefs.

Which of the following most likely explains why Muslims such as Ibn Sina would have been interested in studying the philosophical ideas discussed in the second paragraph?

• The adoption of Greek ideas of republican and democratic governance shaped the early development of the Islamic caliphate.

• The use of observation and logic in studying the natural world was part of a Muslim intellectual tradition.

• Muslim intellectuals were heavily influenced by polytheistic mystery religions.

• Greco-Roman concepts of rigid social and ethnic hierarchies heavily influenced the early Muslim community.

Answer explanation

The correct choice highlights that the use of observation and logic was integral to the Muslim intellectual tradition, which aligns with Ibn Sina's interest in philosophical ideas, emphasizing rational inquiry in understanding the natural world.

The translations and works of Muslim scholars such as Ibn Sina became influential in Europe in the period before 1450 most directly as a result of

• the flourishing of trading cities along the Silk Roads in Central Asia

• political fragmentation and decentralization in medieval Europe

• cultural exchanges between Christians and Muslims in the Mediterranean region

• the fall of Constantinople to the expanding Ottoman Empire

Answer explanation

The translations of Muslim scholars like Ibn Sina were primarily spread through cultural exchanges between Christians and Muslims in the Mediterranean, facilitating the transfer of knowledge before 1450.

Who is the constellation Hercules named after?

• An ancient Greek mythical hero

• A Roman emperor

• A famous philosopher

• A legendary warrior

Answer explanation

The constellation Hercules is named after an ancient Greek mythical hero known for his strength and heroic deeds, distinguishing it from other figures like emperors or philosophers.

What is the title of the book from which the page is taken?

• The Book of Fixed Stars

• The Guide to the Galaxy

• The Astronomer's Handbook

• The Starry Night

Answer explanation

The correct title is 'The Book of Fixed Stars' as it directly relates to the content about celestial bodies, distinguishing it from the other options which focus on different themes.