Chapter 11 Review

The Muslim World:

- Muslim society was more open than that of medieval Europe. People could move up in society, especially through religious, scholarly, or military achievements.

- Slavery was common in the Muslim world. Slaves were brought in from conquered lands; a Muslim could not be a slave.

- If a "non-Muslim" slave converted to Islam, their children would be free.

- Merchants were honored in the Muslim world because Muhammad had been a merchant.

- Trade spread both products and technologies. A common language and religion helped global exchange grow and thrive.

- Merchants set up partnerships, bought and sold on credit, and formed banks to change currency.

- Outside the cities, agriculture flourished across a wide variety of climates and landforms. Muslim farmers cultivated sugar cane, cotton, dyes, medicinal herbs, fruits, vegetables, and flowers

- Muslim religious leaders forbid the portrayal of God or religious figures in art. Instead, walls and ceilings were decorated with elaborate geometrical patterns.

- Islamic literature was based around the Quran. Scholars studied the sacred word in Arabic and then produced their own works interpreting the meaning.

Philosophy- Muslim scholars translated Greek, Roman, Hindu, and Buddhist texts.

Mathematics- Scholars studied Indian and Greek math. al- Khwarizmi developed the study of algebra, after the Arabic word "aljabr"

Astronomy- Studied eclipses, observed the earth's rotation, and calculated the circumference of the earth within a few thousand feet.

Muslims in India:

- Muslim rule brought changes to Indian government and society. Trade between India and the Muslim world increased.

- Muslim conquest of northern India brought disaster the Buddhists and Hindus. As a result, the Buddhist religion declined in India. Many converted to Islam to escape death.

- Muslims were monotheistic and saw the statues of in Hindu temples as an offense to their one true god

- Hindus were considered second class citizens, but were allowed to practice their religion as long as they paid a tax.

- A growing number of Hindus were coverting to Islam.

- Indian merchants were attracted to Islam because of a strong trading network across Muslim lands.

- Hindus and Muslims started to blend cultures. As a result Muslims used marriage customs and caste ideas.

- A new language called "Urdu" evolved due to this "blending"

- In the late 1600's, persecution of the Hindus continued. Economic hardships continued under heavy taxes and revolts by the people.

- Akbar was the chief builder of the Mughal empire.

- The Mughal empire was set up by Babur when he conquered an empire that stretched from the Himalayas to the Deccan.