| 1. |
Focus Question: What were the
origins and early development of Islam? |
|
What rivalry had dominated Eurasia for over four centuries by the beginning
of the 7th century? How did the settled Arabs of Mecca make their living?
What type of language is Arabic? What was the major element of culture
that the Arabs shared? Among which Arab group did Islam begin? What
religious practices did the Arabs follow before Islam? Who was God's messenger
to Muhammad? What was the message of the Qur’an? What was/is
the proper response to God's will? According to Qur’anic revelations
how did Muhammad relate to Jewish and Christian prophets? How was
Muhammad’s message initially received? From what event do Muslims
mark their Islamic calendar? What "economic venture" did Muhammad
use to increase his authority? How did Muhammad treat the Medinan
Jews, why? What were the basic Muslim norms which took shape at Medina?
In general, how did Muhammad treat Christians and Jews? |
| 2. |
Focus Question: What factors
contributed to the expanding of the Arab Empire and what was its nature? |
|
What impact did Abu Bakr's rule have upon the Arabs? What lands
had been conquered by the Arabs by 750? What factors explain Muslim
military successes? What factor has generally been overestimated
in their success? What was the impact of the jizya?
What factors contributed to the permanence of Islamic conquests? What factors
contributed to the permanence of Islamic conquests? Distinguish between
imam, khalifa, and amir. When did the nature of Islamic leadership
become an issue? Which dynasty defeated the Umayyads? What
method did the Umayyads and Abbasids use to select the caliph? What
was the origin of the ulama? By what century was the Shari’a
largely defined? How did the ulama secure de facto leadership in
Muslim societies with the rulers? |
| 3. |
Focus Question:
Over
what issues did the Arab Muslims disagree and what was the result? |
|
What was the greatest strength of the Qur'anic message? What
purpose did the diwan serve? What was the status of early
non-Arab converts in Islam? What were the three early conflicting
interpretations of the Muslim vision? What was the position of the
Kharijites? When did they originate? What was their vision
of the Umma? What are the "roots" of the Shi'a? What was the Shi'a
position concerning the "caliph"? What theological interpretation
did the Shi'a give to the assassination of Ali and Husayn? Where
and when did the Shi'ite vision come to dominate a Muslim state?
What group took the "centrist" position in Islam? What consideration
was placed above particular theological tenets? What were the basic
ideas of the Sunnis? |