Which Roman Emperor is known for making Christianity the official religion of the Roman Empire? 

a) Nero

b) Constantine the Great

c) Theodosius I

d) Hadrian

Around 600 AD, a new monotheistic religion began called Islam:

  • The faith was founded by the prophet Muhammad

  • His followers, called Muslims, spread Islam throughout the Middle East, Africa, Asia, & Europe

  • Today, Islam is the world’s fastest growing religion with more than 1 billion followers throughout the world

  • The Arabian Peninsula is a desert region with little fertile soil or farming

  • Most Arabs lived in desert tribes which were centered around families & were ruled by clans 

  • Arabia was not united under a single gov’t, but Arabs did have a common language (Arabic)

  • Most Arabs were polytheistic

  • Arabia was the intersection of 3 continents (Africa, Asia, & Europe) so it was an important region for trade & had lots of cultural diffusion

  • One of the wealthiest trade cities in Arabia was Mecca 

  • Mecca was also a religious city; The Ka’aba was a cube that held statues of hundreds of gods 

  • Arabs made pilgrimages to Mecca to visit the Ka’aba

Arabia was the intersection of which three continents?

a) Asia, Europe, Africa 

b) Asia, Europe, Australia 

c) Europe, Africa, Australia 

d) Asia, Africa, North America

What was the original purpose of the Kaaba before the rise of Islam? 

a) A marketplace 

b) A residential palace 

c) A polytheistic shrine housing idols 

d) A library for ancient texts

Muhammad’s early life: 

  • He was born in Mecca in 570 into a poor clan, was orphaned at a young age, & was raised by his grandparents

  • As an adult, Muhammad became an honest & successful merchant

  • He married a wealthy widow & started a family

In which city was Muhammad born? 

a) Medina 

b) Mecca 

c) Jerusalem 

d) Baghdad

One of the wealthiest trade cities in Arabia was _______________ (Medina, Mecca, Jerusalem)

Muhammad created Islam:

  • Muhammad’s work brought him into contact with Jewish & Christian merchants

  • In 610, Muhammad was told by the angel Gabriel that he was a prophet sent to Earth by God 

He began preaching a new monotheistic faith called Islam (“surrender to God”)

Basic beliefs of Islam:

  • Followers of Islam are called Muslims who believe in one God, called Allah 

  • Allah is the same God worshiped by Jews & Christians 

  • Muslims believe Muhammad was the last of God’s prophets 

  • Fled to Medina to gain converts

The teachings of Mohammed were written down in the Qur'an (Koran), the holy book of Islam

In 630, Muhammad returned to Mecca with 10,000 troops & conquered the city

  • He destroyed the god statues in the Ka’aba, leaving only the statue for Allah

  • This time, the people in Mecca converted to Islam

  • In 632, Muhammad died

After Muhammad, Islamic leaders created an empire:

  • The Islamic Empire had well-trained troops that conquered nearby regions

  • The massive empire led to great wealth for Muslims & new opportunities to spread Islam