BJU World History Chapter 6

Muezzin

"Crier" who calls the faithful to prayer five times a day from the minaret.

Allah

God of Islam.

Muhammad

He claimed to be the last and greatest of prophets. His teachings became the basis for Islam. Name means "highly praised."

Justinian

He rose from humble origins to become one of the most famous Byzantine emperors. Regained much lost territory through an expensive military effort, had massive building programs, enacted the Justinian Code. Left the empire financially drained upon his death.

Caliphs

"Successors" of Mohammed who directed the affairs of Islam, exercising spiritual, political, and military authority. Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman, and Ali.

Yaroslav

"The Wise." He greatly strengthened Kiev's position of leadership; Kiev became known as the "Mother of Russian Cities." and saw the peak of its power. His reign saw the greatest territorial expansion of the early Russian state. He negotiated marriage alliances and sponsored the earliest Russian code of laws.

Justinian Code

A systematic arrangement of laws that clarified Roman legal principles. The basis for many European law codes today.

Five Pillars of Islam

1. Shahadah: There is no God but Allah, and Muhammad is his prophet. 2. Salat: Prayers must be recited five times a day while facing Mecca. 3. Zakat: "Purification." Alms must be given to the poor. 4. Sawm: A required fast from sunrise to sunset during Ramadan. 5. Hajj: The pilgrimage to Mecca. Required once of every able Muslim.

Minaret

A tall tower that is part of the mosque or adjacent to it.

Mosaic

A favorite decorative art that graced the walls and ceilings of Byzantine churches. Glass and stone laid in wet cement.

Nika Revolt

A popular uprising in 532 that threatened to topple Justinian from power. Name comes from the battle cry of the people meaning "conquer!"

Seljuk Turks

A powerful force in the East. Originally nomadic tribes from central Asia, they adopted Arab culture and the Islamic religion. Conquered Byzantine-controlled Asia Minor in 1071.

Kaaba

A sacred shrine that housed hundreds of pagan idols at Mecca.

ibn Sina

Best remembered for his work with tuberculosis. Muslim physician who wrote many medical books in which they recorded their practical experience in identifying and treating various diseases.

Umayyads

Created a hereditary dynasty, ending the practice of selecting the caliph from among the close friends and relatives of Muhammad.

Excommunicate

Depriving an individual of the sacraments and excluding him from the fellowship of the church.

Slavs

Eastern European people group whose ancestors played a major role in establishing the early Russian state.

"New Rome"

Emperor Constantine formally dedicated this new capital for the Roman Empire in 330. It became more widely known as Constantinople. "Queen of the Mediterranean." Now called Istanbul.

Tartars

Fierce Mongolian warriors from central Asia. They swept into Russian and and destroyed Kiev in 1240.

Muslims

Followers of Islam. Means "submitters to God."

Jihad

Holy War of the Muslims. Conquest of the Arabs.

Islam

Means "submission [to the will of God.]" A new religion formed by Muhammad.

1054

In this year, the split between the Roman Catholic Church in the West and the church in the East became permanent.

Vladimir I

Kievan ruler who ordered the destruction of pagan idols and temples and established Orthodox Christianity as the official state religion.

Basil II

Known as the "Bulgar Slayer." He crushed the Bulgars in the Balkan region and added their kingdoms to the empire. Under Basil, the culture and trade of Justinian's time was revived.

Eastern Orthodox Church

Made up of various national churches. Do not recognize one man as their leader. Each patriarch exercises authority over his own national church and is in equal position to every other patriarch.

622

Muhammad made the fateful decision to flee Mecca and move to Medina in this year.

Ottoman Turks

Muslim invaders who sacked Constantinople and killed the last Byzantine emperor.

al-Razi

Muslim physician who wrote many medical books in which they recorded their practical experience in identifying and treating various diseases.Best remembered for his work with smallpox.

Icons

Painted images of Christ and the saints used for worship.

Omar Khayyam

Perhaps the most renowned Muslim poet and famed mathematician.

Mosques

Places of Muslim worship. The best examples of Muslim architecture.

Rus

Slavic designation of the Norsemen meaning "rowers" or "seafarers."

Ishmael

Son of Abraham. Although he was not the child of God's special promise, God blessed him. His descendants lived in the Arabian Peninsula and became numerous.

Varangians

Swedish Norsemen sailed south from the Baltic Sea and plundered Slavic villages along the rivers.

1453

The Byzantine Empire finally came to an end in this year when a new wave of Muslims sacked Constantinople and killed the last emperor.

Battle of Manzikert

The Byzantine army fell to the Seljuk Turks in 1071 here. Since that day, Asia Minor has remained under the control of the Turks.

Hagia Sophia

The church which name means "Holy Wisdom." The most famous example of fine Byzantine architecture. Constantinople.

Crusades

The West sent several military expeditions to free the East, especially the Holy Land, from Muslim invaders.

Calligraphy

The art of visually beautiful writing.

Abu Bakr

The first caliph. Father of one of Muhammad's wives and early convert of Muhammad.

Hegira

The move of Muhammad and his followers from Mecca to Medina. Celebrated as year 1 in the Muslim calender. Means "Flight."

Byzantine Empire

The remnant of the Roman Empire in the East. Survived 1000 years after Rome fell in the west. Capital = Constantinople. A blending of the cultural heritage of ancient Greece and the cultures of the Near East. Strongly influenced the people of Russia and southeastern Europe. Fell in 1453 to the Ottoman Turks.

Koran

The sacred book and primary authority of the Muslims. Means "recitation." Chapters are called suras.

862

The traditional date for the beginning of Russian history.

Theodora

The wife of Justinian who had a strong character and gave timely counsel. Theodora was formerly from a questionable lifestyle, but after marrying Justinian she became an important co-ruler and adviser to him.

Cyril and Methodius

These Byzantine brothers were Orthodox missionaries to the Slavic peoples of Russia and southeastern Europe. They developed a written language for the Slavic tribes.

Bedouins

These nomads roamed the desert in search of pastureland and water for their herds of goats, sheep, and camels.

Rurik

This Varagian warrior gained control of Novgorod about 862 whether by invitation or by force. He established the first ruling dynasty of of Russia.

Greek Fire

This weapon, which the Byzantines acquired in the seventh century, was an explosive mixture of naptha oil, sulfur, and saltpeter. It could not be put out with water.

Battle of Tours

Umayyads pressed on into southern France until they were stopped by the Franks here in 732.

Abbasids

Under these, Arab supremacy within the Muslim empire gradually declined. They appointed many non Arabs to high government positions. Marks the peak of the Muslim empire.