Grade 8

Question 1

oasis

Answer 1

a fertile spot in a desert that has a spring or well

Question 2

caravan

Answer 2

a company of travelers such as pilgrims or traders journeying together for safety, typically in a desert

Question 3

nomad

Answer 3

a member of a group that has no permanent abode and moves around according to the seasons and a set pattern

Question 4

meteorite

Answer 4

a mass of stone or metal that has reached the earth from outer space

Question 5

kaaba

Answer 5

a cube-shaped building in Mecca, the most sacred of Muslim pilgrim shrines.

Question 6

Islam

Answer 6

the religious faith of Muslims

Question 7

empire

Answer 7

a territory larger than a kingdom ruled over by an Emperor.

Question 8

Constantinople

Answer 8

former capital of the Turkish/Ottoman Empire now called Istanbul.

Question 9

pagan

Answer 9

person in a community observing a polytheistic religion.

Question 10

idol

Answer 10

image or object representing a deity to which religious worship is addressed.

Question 11

believer

Answer 11

to have religious faith

Question 12

follower

Answer 12

a disciple, adherent; one who follows another

Question 13

religion

Answer 13

ritual observance of faith or beliefs

Question 14

conquerer

Answer 14

person who conquers or vanquishes, victor

Question 15

polytheism

Answer 15

the doctrine or belief in many gods

Question 16

monotheism

Answer 16

the doctrine or belief in one god

Question 17

Abbasids

Answer 17

member of dynasty of caliphs ruling at Baghdad BCE 750-1258, governing most of the Islamic world

Question 18

bedouin

Answer 18

nomadic people of the Arabian peninsula; culture based on camel and goat nomadism.

Question 19

Caliph

Answer 19

the political and religious successor to Mohammed

Question 20

Ayan

Answer 20

the wealthy landed elite that emerged in the decades of Abbassid rule

Question 21

hadith

Answer 21

traditions of the Prophet Muhammad

Question 22

Jizya

Answer 22

head tax paid by all non-believers in Islamic countries

Question 23

Mecca

Answer 23

city in the western Arabian peninsula, birthplace of the the Prophet, spiritual center of Islam

Question 24

Medina

Answer 24

Also known as Yathrib; town located northeast of Mecca; grew date palms whose fruit was sold to Bedouins; became refuge for the Prophet following his refuge from Mecca (hijra)

Question 25

Umayyad

Answer 25

clan of bedouins who controlled mMecca in the 7th century C.E. that dominated politics and commercial economy of Mecca; clan later able to establish dynasty as rulers of Islam.

Question 26

Umma

Answer 26

community of the faithful within Islam; transcended old tribal boundaries to create degree of political unity

Question 27

Wazir

Answer 27

helper (“right-hand man”) for a high-ranking political (and sometimes religious) advisor or minister, often a Muslim monarch such as a Caliph or Sultan

Question 28

Sultan

Answer 28

ruler of Muslim country; powerful person