Quiz Review: The Arabian Peninsula before Islam and Muhammad’s life and story
Directions: Study the filled questions AND attempt to fill in the ones that are blank. Other than studying this sheet
you should also read through and review the material related to this quiz. Take a second look at the reading on
the Arabian Peninsula before Muhammad, the reading on Muhammad’s life, and the video clip notes on
Muhammad.
Pre-Islamic Arabian Peninsula
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Tribal/Clan society
No major empire of government to control things
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Bedouin means “people of the desert”
Nomadic people (didn’t settle in one place)
Raised herds of sheep, goats, and camels
Relied on the herds for survival (food, clothing, etc.)
What kind of religion did the
nomads of the Arabian Peninsula
have before Islam?
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Animism---a religion that worshipped nature spirits and is a form of
nature worship.
What was the importance of the
Ka’aba to PRE-ISLAMIC Arabs?
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PRE-ISLAMIC Arabs believed the Ka’aba was the home of their many
gods
They would make pilgrimages to the shrine to pray to these gods
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West coast cities
Mountainous west coast known as the Hijaz
How was pre-Islamic society
organized? What kind of
government was around?
How did the geography of the
Peninsula shape how people
lived?
Describe the life of the Bedouin
peoples.
Why were camels so important to
life in the Arabian Peninsula?
Where did most of the trade in
the Peninsula take place?
Why was there constant violence
in the Arabian Peninsula?
Muhammad’s Life and Story
Describe Muhammad’s early life.
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Born in 570 A.D. in Mecca
Orphaned---dad died around the time he was born, mom died when
he was six
He was raised by his grandfather and uncle
Grew up poor and had to work hard
Why was Muhammad message so
popular with the poor and
outcasts of Arabian society?
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His message/religion said that all people were equal before God
Called for an end to differences between rich and poor
Why did the leaders of Mecca
reject Muhammad’s message?
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Many didn’t believe Muhammad
Some were insulted by his claim that their tribal gods were false
His new message threatened the business of Mecca. Why would
people come on pilgrimage to Mecca if the gods were false?
Why were Muhammad’s armies
so successful?
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Motivated by their faith
Other tribes joined Muhammad’s side when Muhammad started
winning
What surprising things did
Muhammad do when he
conquered the city of Mecca in
630 A.D.?
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Showed mercy to the people of Mecca…he didn’t harm them
He destroyed the statues to the animist gods outside of the Ka’aba
and dedicated the Ka’aba to Allah
When did Muhammad say to
have his first revelation from
God? Where?
What is the importance of the
Hijrah (622 AD)?
What is the importance of the
Quran to Muslims?