Islamic Empire Vocab Muhammed- Prophet of Islam (570-632). Abu Bakr- First caliph after the death of Muhammad.

Islam- Monotheistic religion of the prophet Muhammad (570-632); influenced by Judaism and Christianity, Muhammad was considered the final prophet because the earlier religions had not seen the entire picture; the Qu'ran is the holy book of Islam. Muslim- A follower of Islam. Hajj- Pilgrimage to Mecca. Quran-Islamic holy book that is believed to contain the divine revelations of Allah as presented to Muhammad. Madrasas- Islamic institutions of higher education that originated in the tenth century. Sufism- Islamic mystics who placed more emphasis on emotion and devotion than on strict adherence to rules. Ghazis- Islamic religious warrior. Ulama- Islamic officials, scholars who shaped public policy in accordance with the Qu'ran and the sharia. Sunni- "Traditionalists," the most popular branch of Islam; Sunnis believe in the legitimacy of the early caliphs, compared to the Shiite belief that only a descendent of Ali can lead. Shia- Islamic minority in opposition to the Sunni majority; their belief is that leadership should reside in the line descended from Ali. Bedouins- Nomadic Arabic tribespeople. Umma- Islamic term for the "community of the faithful." Sharia- The Islamic holy law, drawn up by theologians from the Qu'ran, and accounts of Muhammad's life. Qadis- Islamic judges. Jizya- Tax in Islamic empires that was imposed on non-Muslims. Abbasid- Cosmopolitan Arabic dynasty (750-1258) that replaced the Umayyads; founded by Abu alAbbas and reaching its peak under Harun al-Rashid.

Byzantine Empire Vocab Byzantine- Long-lasting empire centered at Constantinople; it grew out of the end of the Roman empire and carried legacy of Roman greatness and was the only classical society to survive into the early modern age; it reached its early peak during the reign of Justinian (483--565). Caesaropapism- Concept relating to the mixing of political and religious authority, as with the Roman emperors, that was central to the church versus state controversy in medieval Europe. Christianity- Religion emerging from Middle East in the first century C.E. holding Jesus to be the son of God who sacrificed himself on behalf of mankind. Constantinople- Capital of the Byzantine empire and a cultural and economic center. Corpus iuris civilis- Body of the Civil Law, the Byzantine emperor Justinian's attempt to codify all Roman law. Crusades- Campaigns by Christian knights to seize the holy lands that led to trade with Muslims and the importation of Muslim ideas regarding science and mathematics. Eastern Orthodox Christianity- Eastern branch of Christianity that evolved following the division of the Roman Empire and the subsequent development of the Byzantine Empire in the east and the medieval European society in the west. The church recognized the primacy of the patriarch of Constantinople. Greek Fire- Flammable substance used by Byzantine empire to repel Muslim attacks. Hagia Sophia- Greek orthodox temple constructed by the Byzantine emperor Justinian and later converted into a mosque. Iconoclasts- Supporters of the movement, begun by the Byzantine Emperor Leo III (r. 717-741), to destroy religious icons because their veneration was considered sinful. Patriarch- Leader of the Greek Orthodox church, which in 1054 officially split with the Pope and the Roman Catholic church. Saljuqs- Turkish tribe that gained control over the Abbasid empire and fought with the Byzantine empire. Sasanids- Later powerful Persian dynasty (224-651) that would reach its peak under Shapur I and later fall to Arabic expansion. Theme- Byzantine province under the control of generals. Third Rome- Concept that a new power would rise up to carry the legacy of Roman greatness after the decline of the Second Rome, Constantinople; Moscow was referred to as the Third Rome during the fifteenth century.