Abu Bakr As-Seddiq: successor of Muhammad. Ruled from 632-634. He was the first caliph and was described as spiritual and modest.
Ali ibn Abi Talib: 4th “rightly guided” caliph.
Assyrian: people of an ancient empire near the Tigris river
Byzantine: relates to Byzantium, which is now known as Istanbul
Caliph: ruler, semi-divine leader and administrator.
Caliphate: Leadership in Islam after Muhammad’s death in 632 C.E. Muhammad said he was the last prophet, so they needed to find a new form of leadership.
Comes from the Arabic word “khalifa”.
Damascus: Syrian Capital
Fertile Crescent: crescent shaped. It was formed by the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers. Many early civilizations lived there.
Geneva Conventions: A set of international humanitarian laws
Jerusalem: Capital of Israel
Khalifa: means successor,(or deputy) specifically the successor to Muhammad. Like the deputy of god on Earth,.
Koran (Quran): sacred book containing writing about the teachings of Muhammad. Based on revelations by Allah or the angel Gabriel.
Medina (Madinah):City in Saudi Arabia where Muhammad died in 632.
Mosque: a Muslim place of worship
Muhammad: the last prophet. Arab religious leader who founded Islam.
Muslim- a follower of Islam
Persia: now known as Iran
Sharia: Islamic law. This law is based on the Koran.
souk: market in Africa or the Middle East
Umar (Omar): second “rightly guided” caliph. He ruled from 634 until he was assassinated in 644.
Uthman: 3rd “rightly guided” caliph. He ruled from 644-656. He was murdered in Medina.