The Muslim Empire (9-2)
Name: __________________________________________________________ Class: ________
At the end of the sixth century, the emperor of Persia wrote to the Byzantine emperor. He
praised their two empires as the greatest of their day. The Persians and the Byzantines, he said,
“are to the world what…two eyes are to a man.” The Persian emperor did not know that this
would soon change. Within 100 years a new empire – the Muslim Empire – would defeat the
Persians and threaten the Byzantines.
One of the principles that the government of the United States of America is based on is the
separation of church and state (government). In Muslim cultures religion is very closely
intertwined with government and with people’s ways of life.
1. Explain what it means to have a separation of church and state.
2. Give an example of the United States having this separation.
3. What do you know about Muslims? Who are they? What do they do?
Read “Herders and Townspeople” pages 303-304
4. How much of the Arabian Peninsula is covered by desert?
5. How did Arab people use steppes?
6. Why was Mecca important?
Read “Muhammad and Islam” pages 304-305
7. Where was Muhammad born?
8. What was Muhammad unhappy about?
9. What was Muhammad’s vision?
10. What was Islam based on and what does it mean?
11. What is the Qur’an?
12. What is a Muslim?
13. Why were the tribal leaders in Mecca unhappy with Islam?
14. What happened after the Muslims defeated the Meccans?
Read “The Muslim Empire Grows” pages 305-306
15. What did the caliphs do after the death of Muhammad?
16. Why didn’t the Persians and Byzantines resist the Arabs?
Read “Achievements of Muslim Civilization” pages 306-307
17. What is a mosque?
18. Describe in detail what a mosque looks like.
19. What were some achievements of the Muslim culture?
Read “Divisions Within the Muslim Empire” pages 307-308
20. What are the two Muslim groups?
21. What is the difference between the two groups?