Self-test in Geography

Indicate the answer choice that best completes the statement or answers the question. 1. Who founded the Umayyad Dynasty? a. Mu'awiya b. Ali c. Uthman d. Umar 2. How many wives does the Qur'an allow a man to have? a. Four, as long as all are treated equitably b. Only one c. Four, if the first one is treated best d. As many as he can afford to keep 3. This map of the Fatimid caliphate provides evidence of what process in the Muslim world that began as early as the eighth century? a. Incorporation of neighboring peoples b. Political fragmentation c. Expansion of cultural influence d. Growing naval power 4. In what year did Muhammad die? a. 632 b. 751 c. 569 d. 815 5. In Muslim society, how were merchants viewed? a. They were regarded as second-class citizens. b. They were usually drawn from the "protected people." c. Seen as unsavory, they were forced to live in specified neighborhoods. d. They were viewed as a respected part of society. 6. Why was Abu Bakr elected first caliph? a. There were no other contenders who wanted to be caliph. b. Abu Bakr was the only Bedouin candidate. c. Khadija, Muhammad's wife, supported Abu Bakr. d. He was Muhammad's close supporter. 7. One division between Sunni and Shi'a Muslims is the question of who interprets the Qur'an and the Sunna. Who has that authority for the Shi'a? a. An imam b. The caliph c. The ulama d. The umma 8. How did most Muslim marriages come about? a. Couples usually met at school. b. Marriages were arranged by families or guardians. c. Local religious leaders served as matchmakers for young people. d. A girl was encouraged to choose her spouse from among her father's employees. 9. How did the introduction of large numbers of Turks affect the Islamic world? a. The Turks brought badly needed military strength to the Islamic world. b. The large number of foreigners made the caliph uneasy. c. The Turks usually embraced Shi'ism, which greatly increased the number of Shi'ites. d. The new converts rapidly promoted a shift toward pastoralism. 10. According to Map 9.2, "The Expansion of Islam and Its Trading Networks in the Thirteenth and Fourteenth Centuries," the strength of Islamic seaborne trade is especially prominent in which of the following regions? a. The Atlantic Ocean b. The Black Sea c. The Caspian Sea d. The Arabian Sea 11. What empire was defeated by the Muslim army at the Battle of Nihawand and ended in 642? a. Visigothic b. Byzantine c. Afghanistan d. Sassanid 12. According to Map 9.2, "The Expansion of Islam and Its Trading Networks in the Thirteenth and Fourteenth Centuries," which of the following was the northernmost river reached by Islamic traders by the year 1500? a. Volga b. Dnieper c. Danube d. Nile 13. How was higher education in the Muslim world similar to that in China? a. Both systems viewed the personal relationship between teacher and student as key to education. b. In the Muslim world, as in China, graduates were guaranteed employment as civil servants. c. Both systems were run by religious authorities, and students were expected to become religious leaders after graduation. d. In both the Muslim world and China, a few women were allowed to pursue their education alongside men. 14. In the Christian West, where did Christians and Muslims have the greatest interaction? a. Andalusia b. France c. Syria d. Egypt 15. According to the Qur'an, men and women a. are equal in Allah's eyes. b. should engage in sexual relations only for procreation. c. could divorce each other quite easily. d. ought to live entirely separate lives. 16. According to Muhammad, who visited him and commanded him to preach God's revelations? a. God b. Abraham c. The angel Gabriel d. His father 17. Before the tenth century, historians generally characterize Muslim-Christian interactions as a. incredibly contentious. b. amicable and mutually reinforcing. c. only commercial in nature. d. based upon distrust and fear. 18. Under what circumstance could a woman in the Muslim world become educated? a. If she was born into a family of scholars b. If she owned enough slaves to do the housework c. If her husband or male guardian encouraged it d. If she first married and had children 19. How does the ritual practiced by the Islamic faithful at the Ka'ba in this photograph mimic that practiced by Buddhists paying homage at a stupa? a. Both shrines draw similarly large crowds. b. The faithful of both religions are typically seated during the ritual. c. Circumambulation is a central component of both rituals. d. Both rituals take place in an urban space. 20. According to Muhammad, what was the umma? a. A tribal community united by family ties b. The path by which a Muslim achieved salvation c. A community of people who shared a religious faith and commitment d. The most important ritual a Muslim could practice 21. Which statement about the Qur'an is true? a. It was written and published by Muhammad himself. b. It was first published in Muhammad's lifetime. c. It forbids alcohol, gambling, and eating of pork. d. It contains thousands of highly complex calculations. 22. Which of the following was an important financial innovation developed by Muslim merchants? a. They developed the idea of a savings account. b. They were the first to make loans. c. They were responsible for beginning Indian Ocean trade routes. d. They developed the joint stock company. 23. According to Map 9.1, "The Expansion of Islam, 622–900," during which of the following periods did Islam experience the largest territorial growth? a. 622–632 b. 632–656 c. 656–750 d. 750–900 24. What are the collections of sayings of or anecdotes about Muhammad called? a. Hadith b. Ulema c. Shari'a d. Madrasa 25. Which of the following was a focus of the religious movement known as Sufism? a. A personal spiritual experience rather than merely study of the Qur'an b. The interests of women c. The overthrow of the caliphate d. Knowledge through rational deduction and the rejection of the mysticism of other major religions of the time 26. How was slavery in the Islamic world different from the slavery practiced later in the Americas? a. In the Islamic world, slavery was seldom hereditary. b. In the Islamic world, it was forbidden to enslave "protected peoples." c. In the Islamic world, slaves did not become soldiers. d. In the Islamic world, slaves were used exclusively for agricultural labor. 27. According to the text, the Qur'an's injunctions regarding the treatment of women a. restricted their freedom substantially compared to earlier Arab tradition. b. implied that women were spiritually superior to men. c. were determined strictly by the sexual needs of men. d. were a substantial improvement on earlier treatment of women in Arab societies. 28. The presence of the Ka'ba attracted pilgrims to what city? a. Baghdad b. Damascus c. Mecca d. Medina 29. Why were dhimmis, or protected people, allowed some religious freedom? a. They controlled major trade routes. b. They worshiped only one God. c. They greatly outnumbered the Muslims. d. They were generally uneducated and weak. 30. How did the Muslim military elite ensure the recruitment of troops and their loyalty? a. They scattered soldiers as landlords across conquered lands. b. They promised military recruits eternal salvation. c. They provided soldiers with a monthly ration of food and an annual cash stipend. d. They created new cities that offered special amenities for retired soldiers. 31. What were the function and status of slaves within the Islamic world? Since the early days of Muslim history, enslaved people have performed plantation work similar to that of early modern America. Still, this practice was abandoned after the harsh treatment of enslaved people caused a devastating rebellion. Enslaved people were often used for irrigation, mining, and livestock breeding but most commonly used as soldiers, guards, domestic servants, and concubinages. Many rulers relied on military slaves (often vast standing armies) and administrative enslaved people, which allowed them to seize power from time to time. The economic role of slavery was necessary, at least in certain places and times. Enslaved people were also used for domestic work, military service, sexual slavery, and civil administration. Slavery in Islamic law has no basis for race or color, but it is not always the case in reality. 32. How was the expansion of Islam aided by the divisions within, and disorder between, the Byzantine and Sassanid Empires? Arab Muslim troops spread across the Arabian Peninsula and invaded the lands of the Byzantine and Sasanian empires. After a period of war with the Turks, economic turmoil, illness, environmental problems, and other surrounding groups, these empires were severely weakened. Serving both the Byzantine army and the Sassanid army has made it well available to Arab Islamic invaders. Military conquests, trade, pilgrimages, and missionaries were used to spread Islam. Over time, Arab Muslim soldiers conquered vast lands and established imperial organizations. After the rebellion was subdued on the Arabian Peninsula in the 7th century, Arab Muslim troops advanced rapidly, conquering the surrounding Byzantine and Sasanian empires and later territories. In less than 20 years, they built a vast Arab Islamic empire that spans three continents. Religion played a role, but Arab Muslim monarchs were not driven solely by religion, nor were they successful solely by the power of Islam. Arab Muslim troops spread across the Arabian Peninsula and invaded the lands of the Byzantine and Sasanian empires. After a period of war with the Turks, economic turmoil, illness, environmental problems, and other surrounding groups, these empires were severely weakened. Serving both the Byzantine army and the Sassanid army has made it well available to Arab Islamic invaders.