Chapter 8

Question 1

Qur’an

Answer 1

The holy book of Islam, considered the world of Allah (‘The God”) as revealed to the prophet Muhammad

Question 2

The Hijra

Answer 2

The immigration of Muhammed from Mecca to Medina. Its time, 622, marks the year 1 of Islamic calendar

Question 3

Jihad

Answer 3

In the Qur’an the word means “striving in the way of God.” This can mean both striving to live righteously and striving to confront unbelievers , even as far as holy war

Question 4

Five Pillars of Islam

Answer 4

The five essential practices of Islam, namely the zakat (Alms); the fast of Ramadan; the hijj (Pilgrimage to Mecca); the salat (formal worship); and the shahadah (profession of faith)

Question 5

Shi’ite

Answer 5

A muslim of the “party of Ali” and his descendants. Shi’ites are thus opposed to Sunni Muslims who reject the authority Ali

Question 6

Umayyad Caliphate

Answer 6

The caliphs (successors of Muhammad who traced their ancestry to Umayyah, a member of Muhammads tribe. The dynasty lasted from 661-750

Question 7

Lombards

Answer 7

The people who settled in Italy during the sixth century, following Justinian’s reconquest. A king ruled the north of Italy , while dukes ruled the south. In between was the papacy, which felt threatened both by Lombard Aranism and by the Lombards geographical proximity to Rome

Question 8

Icons

Answer 8

Images of holy people such as Jesus, Mary, and the Saints. controversy arose in Byzantium

Question 9

Iconoclasm

Answer 9

Literally “icon breaking” referring to the destruction of icons, or images of holy people

Question 10

Merovingian Dynasty

Answer 10

the royal dynasty that ruled Gaul from about 486-751

Question 11

Oblation

Answer 11

literally “an offering”. oblation was the practice by which parents confided their sons or daughters at a young age to monastery. At the time, it was considered a worthy and pious gesture, beneficial to the souls of the parents and child

Question 12

Synod of Whitby

Answer 12

The meeting of churchmen and king Oswy of Northumbria in 664 that led to the adoption of the Roman brand of Christianity in England

Question 13

Muhammad

Answer 13

The prophet of Islam (c. 570-632) He united a community of believers around his religious tenets, above all that there was one god whose words had been revealed to him by the Angel Gabriel. Later, written down these revelations became the Qur’an

Question 14

Heraclius

Answer 14

The Byzantine emperor who reversed the fortunes of war with the Persians in the first quarter of the 7th century

Question 15

Gregory of Tours

Answer 15

Bishop of Tours (in Gaul) from 573-594, the chief source for the history and culture of the Merovingian Kingdoms

Question 16

Gregory the Great

Answer 16

The pope (r.590-604) who sent missionaries to the Anglo-Saxons England, wrote influential books, and had major contact with the major ruling families of Byzantine and Europe and tried to reform the church