Untitled Quiz

Sufis

• Islamic mystics aiming for an emotional union with Allah over intellectual understanding.
• Known for kindness, holiness, tolerance, and charismatic appeal, making them effective missionaries.

Greek Fire

• Incendiary weapon composed of Sulphur, lime, and petroleum.
• Used effectively by Byzantine forces against Islamic invaders in the late 7th and early 8th centuries.

Theodora

• Wife of Byzantine Emperor Justinian, who advised on political, diplomatic, and theological matters.

Block Printing

• Printing technique popularized in early Song China involving carved wooden blocks to create prints.
• Reusable and movable type was invented by mid-11th century.

Caliph

• Title meaning "deputy," representing the Islamic head of state, religious leader, chief judge, and military commander.

Shia

• Political and theological sect in Islam, originally supporting Ali and his descendants as caliphs.
• Acts as a refuge for opponents of the Sunni sect.

Bushido

• "The way of the warrior," a code of conduct for samurai in feudal Japan emphasizing loyalty, courage, and aggressive spirit.

Ottoman Turks

• Muslim Turks who captured Constantinople in 1453, integrating Byzantium into their empire.

Paper Money

• Introduced by Chinese private banks in the late 9th century as currency for commerce.
• By the 16th century, the issuing of paper money became an exclusive government right.

Iconoclasts

• Movement initiated by Emperor Leo III to destroy religious images and eliminate their use in churches, sparking over a century of debate.

Five Pillars of Islam

• Obligatory duties for all Muslims: belief in Allah, prayer, fasting during Ramadan, charity (zakat), and pilgrimage (hajj).

Umayyad Dynasty

• A prominent Meccan merchant clan that established a dynasty from 661 to 750 CE, with Damascus as its capital.

Flying Cash

• Early form of credit issued by banks during the early Tang dynasty to facilitate trade, alleviating copper coin shortages.

Civil Service Examinations

• Tests given to recruit government officials in China, based on classic literature and philosophy, started during the Han dynasty and formalized in the Tang and Song dynasties.

Muhammad

• Known as the "seal of the prophets," he believed he was the final prophet delivering Allah's message to humankind.

Dhow

• Large commercial ships used by Indian, Persian, and Arab sailors for trade.

Bedouins

• Nomadic people of the Arabian Peninsula, known for herding and kinship-based social structures; early converts to Islam.

Hagia Sophia

• A monumental church built in Constantinople under Justinian, later a mosque and museum, renowned for its architectural significance.

Arabian Nights

• A collection of adventurous and romantic tales from the Abbasid empire, notably featuring the court of Harun al-Rashid.

Malacca

• A powerful Southeast Asian kingdom founded in the late 14th century, transitioning from Hinduism to Islam by the mid-15th century.

Sharia

• Islamic holy law derived from religious principles, guiding social and ethical values.

Constantinople

• "City of Constantine," capital of the Byzantine Empire, fell to Ottoman Turks in 1453 and was renamed Istanbul.

Serfs

• A social class in feudal Europe, with obligations to cultivate lords' lands, formed through the merging of slaves and free peasants.

Abu Bakr

• Close companion of Muhammad, became the first caliph of the Islamic community after Muhammad's death.

Neo-Confucianism

• A development of Confucianism during the Song dynasty, blending Confucian principles with Buddhist thought, foundational for civil service exams.

Dar al-Islam

• Refers to the "house of Islam," encompassing diverse lands under Islamic rule.

Samurai

• Professional warriors serving provincial lords in feudal Japan, embodying virtues of loyalty, strength, and aggression.

Jizya

• Head tax levied on non-Muslims by Arab conquerors during the Umayyad dynasty.

Abbasid Dynasty

• Islamic dynasty established by Abu al-Abbas, ruling from Baghdad from 750 to 1258 CE.

Foot Binding

• A Chinese custom since the Song dynasty, involving tightly wrapping women's feet to alter their shape as a symbol of attractiveness and status.

Middle Ages

• Medieval period of European history spanning from 500 to 1500, bridging the classical era and modern times.

Sunnis

• Followers of a major Islamic sect that adheres to the established religious law and practices.

Cyril and Methodius

• Byzantine missionaries who created the Cyrillic alphabet for Slavic peoples, spreading literacy in the 9th century.

Greens and Blues

• Two opposing factions in Constantinople known for their chariot race rivalries, which culminated in a unified protest against high taxes in 532.

Islam

• "Submission," founded by Muhammad in the Arabian Peninsula, emphasizing obedience to Allah.

Shogun

• Title for the most powerful regional lord in Japan under the emperor's symbolic authority, first used during the Kamakura period.

Great Canal

• An extensive artificial waterway built under Sui Yangdi, facilitating trade and transportation across China.

Tribute System

• A hierarchical relationship between China and neighboring countries, where subordinate states recognized Chinese emperors' supremacy in exchange for gifts and trade benefits.

Mecca

• The birthplace of Muhammad and the holiest city in Islam, home to the Ka'ba and a pilgrimage destination.

Eastern Orthodox Church

• The Christian church of the Byzantine Empire post-1054 schism, reflecting Greek philosophical influences.

Gunpowder

• An explosive discovered by Daoist alchemists in the 5th century, used in China for fireworks and weaponry, spreading across Eurasia.

Justinian

• Byzantine Emperor (527-565 CE) known for rebuilding Constantinople, codifying Roman law, and significant military campaigns.

Heian Japan

• Period from 794 to 1185 in Japan marked by political and cultural advancements, with the imperial house as a national authority symbol amid Fujiwara control.

Prince Vladimir

• Ruler of Kiev who converted his kingdom to Orthodox Christianity in 989, establishing religious alignment.

Manor

• A self-sufficient estate of a feudal lord, containing agricultural land and serfs, significant for medieval European agriculture.

Fast-Ripening Rice

• A Vietnamese-developed rice strain allowing for two harvests yearly, introduced to south China during the Tang dynasty.

Arabic Numerals

• Numerical system originating in India and propagated by Arabs, foundational for mathematical development, including the concept of zero.

Caesaropapism

• The intertwining of political and ecclesiastical authority in the Byzantine Empire, where emperors influenced church affairs.

Hajj

• The pilgrimage to Mecca, a religious obligation for Muslims, transforming the Ka'ba into a significant Islamic holy site post-Muhammad's visit in 632.

Magyars

• Descendants of Central Asian nomads who settled in Hungary, known for raiding regions in Europe between the late 9th and mid-10th centuries.

Theme System

• Byzantine administrative organization to fortify free peasantry, with generals responsible for military and civil governance.

Sultanate of Delhi

• State founded by Muslim Turks that ruled northern India for over three centuries starting in the early 13th century.

Byzantine Empire

• Eastern portion of the Roman Empire, established as Constantinople, fell to Ottoman Turks in 1453 after losing significant territories to Islam.

Baghdad

• Capital city of the Abbasid dynasty, notable for its grandeur and strategic location near the former Sasanid capital.

Quran

• Holy book of Islam containing revelations received by Muhammad, serving as the ultimate authority for Islamic doctrine.

Vikings

• Scandinavian seafarers notorious for raids across Europe from the 8th to 11th centuries; established settlements in Iceland, Greenland, and North America.

Kiev

• A trading center on the Dnieper River, pivotal for trade routes connecting Scandinavia and Byzantium, dominating the region between the Volga and Dnieper.

Fourth Crusade

• An expedition (1202-1204) initially aimed at reclaiming Jerusalem but diverted to sack Constantinople, causing significant political repercussions in the Byzantine Empire.