Muslim Civilizations 620-1630

A dynasty descended from Muhammad's uncle, who have overthrown the Umayyads. Abbasids. The Abbasids were a major Islamic caliphate that ruled much of the Muslim world from 750 to 1258, known for fostering a golden age of culture and knowledge.

A companion and a father-in-law of the prophet Muhammad. Abu Bakr. He was the first caliph and leader of the Muslim community after Muhammad's death.

The third Mughal emperor who expanded the Mughal Empire in India. Akbar. Akbar was a powerful and influential Indian ruler known for his military conquests and efforts to unite his diverse empire.

A Persian mathematician and astronomer, known for the book he wrote about algebra, al-Khwarizmi. Al-Khwarizmi is considered the father of algebra, as his work laid the foundations for modern mathematics.

The founder and first Emperor of the Mughal dynasty. Babur. Babur was a descendant of Genghis Khan and Timur who established the Mughal Empire in the Indian subcontinent.

The city was founded in the 8th century and was the capital of the Abbasid Caliphate. Baghdad. Baghdad is a historic city in present-day Iraq that was once a center of learning and culture in the Islamic Golden Age.

A grouping of nomadic Arab people who lived in the Arabian, Syrian and Saharan Deserts. Bedouins. They are traditionally known for their herding lifestyle and tribal culture in desert regions.

The supreme religious and political leader of an Islamic state. A caliph is a leader who succeeded Muhammad in governing the Muslim community.

A visual art related to writing calligraphy. Calligraphy is the art of beautiful and stylized handwriting that has been valued throughout history for its aesthetic and cultural significance.

A capital of various empires, most notably the Delhi Sultanate and the Mughal Empire. Delhi is a historic city in India that has served as a center of political power for centuries.

The most influential figure in Persian literature and the author of Shahnameh. Firdawsi. Firdawsi was a Persian poet who wrote an epic poem that helped preserve the history and culture of Persia.

An annual Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca, hajj. Hajj is a religious journey that Muslims make to the holy city of Mecca, reflecting a tradition dating back to the Prophet Muhammad.

The migration of the prophet Muhammad and his followers from Mecca to Yathrib. Hijra. Hijra is the journey that marked the beginning of the Islamic calendar.

An Arab scholar of Islam, social scientist and historian. Ibn Khaldun. He is known for pioneering the study of historiography and sociology.

A Muslim polymath, a scholar of Greek and Islamic philosophy. Ibn Rushd. Ibn Rushd, also known as Averroes, was a medieval Andalusian philosopher who played a key role in preserving and interpreting Aristotle's works in the Islamic world and Europe.

A Persian polymath and the most important doctor and Islamic philosopher of his time. Ibn Sina. Ibn Sina, also known as Avicenna, was a medieval scholar whose medical texts greatly influenced both Islamic and European medicine.

A city in Iran which was the capital of Persia under Shah Abbas the Great. Isfahan. Isfahan is a historic city known for its vibrant culture and stunning Islamic architecture.

The capital city of the Ottoman Empire, previously known as Byzantium and Constantinople. Istanbul. Istanbul is a historic city that has served as a major cultural and political center for centuries.

An elite infantry unit that formed the Ottoman Sultan's standing army Janissaries. The Janissaries were special soldiers in the Ottoman Empire known for their discipline and loyalty to the Sultan.

An Arabic word for struggle and a theological and legal concept in Islam. Jihad. In history, jihad often refers to the effort to spread or defend Islam, which can include both personal spiritual struggles and military actions.

A building at the center of Great Mosque of Mecca, the most sacred site in Islam. Kaaba. The Kaaba is an ancient cubed structure that Muslims believe was built by Prophet Abraham and his son Ishmael as a house of monotheistic worship.

A city in the Saudi Arabia, the birthplace of Muhammad. Mecca. Mecca is a historic and sacred city for Muslims, serving as the center of Islamic worship and pilgrimage.

One of the three holiest cities in Islam, located in Saudi Arabia. Medina. Medina is where the Prophet Muhammad migrated and established the first Muslim community.

A tower built into mosques used for the Muslim call to prayer. Minaret. Historically, a minaret is a distinctive architectural feature from which the call to prayer is announced in Islamic cultures.

A place of worship for Muslims. Mosque. Historically, mosques are centers for prayer and community gatherings in Islam.

A clans of the Indian subcontinent, descended from the Central Asian Turk and Mongol tribes. Mughal. The Mughals were a powerful empire in India known for their rich culture and architectural achievements, like the Taj Mahal.

An Arab religious, social, and political leader and the founder of Islam. Muhammad. Muhammad was a 7th-century prophet who established Islam and unified much of the Arabian Peninsula under one religion.

A polymath, physician, alchemist, philosopher and important figure in the history of medicine, Muhammad al-Razi. He was a notable Persian scholar who made significant contributions to medicine in the medieval Islamic world.

A Mughal Empress and wife of the Emperor Jahangir. Nur Jahan. Nur Jahan was a powerful and influential queen in Mughal India known for her political acumen and leadership.

A Persian mathematician, astronomer, philosopher, and poet. Omar Khayyam. Omar Khayyam was a prominent figure in the 11th and 12th centuries, known for his contributions to mathematics and his poetic work, the "Rubaiyat."

The Turkish-speaking people of the Ottoman Empire. Ottomans. The Ottomans were a powerful empire that ruled much of Southeast Europe, Western Asia, and North Africa from the 14th to the early 20th century.

A Turkic Oghuz tribe who lived in the area of Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Iran. Qajars. The Qajars were a royal dynasty that ruled Persia now Iran from the late 18th to early 20th century.

The central religious text of Islam. Quran. The Quran is the holy book of Islam, believed to be the word of God as revealed to the Prophet Muhammad.

A title for a monarch equivalent to king or princely ruler in the India and Southeast Asia. Rajah. In history, a rajah was a male leader or ruler in parts of India and Southeast Asia.

One of the most significant ruling dynasties of Iran. Safavid. The Safavid dynasty was a powerful empire that established Shia Islam as the state religion in Iran from 1501 to 1736.

A Persian word which means the king or ruler of a country. Shah. In history, a shah was the title given to the monarchs of Iran until 1979.

The 5th Safavid Shah of Iran, known as the strongest ruler of the Safavid dynasty, Shah Abbas. Shah Abbas was a powerful leader who strengthened Iran through military success and cultural development.

The fifth Mughal emperor, best known for rising the Taj Mahal. Shah Jahan. Shah Jahan was the emperor who built the Taj Mahal as a monument to his late wife, Mumtaz Mahal.

A religious law forming part of the Islamic tradition. Sharia. Sharia is a set of Islamic laws and guidelines that have historically governed various aspects of life for Muslim communities.

A one of the two main branches of Islam. Shiite. Shiites are Muslims who believe that Ali, the cousin of Muhammad, was the rightful successor after Muhammad's death.

A monotheistic religion that originated in the Punjab region. Sikhism. Sikhism is a religion founded in the 15th century by Guru Nanak that emphasizes equality, community service, and devotion to one God.

The movement of individuals or families within or between social strata in a society. Social mobility. In history, social mobility is when people move upward or downward in status or class, like when serfs became landowners.

A practitioners of the inner, mystical dimension of Islam. Sufis. Sufis are Islamic mystics who seek a direct, personal experience of God often through rituals and spiritual practices, and they have significantly influenced the cultural and spiritual life throughout Islamic history.

The tenth and longest-reigning Sultan of the Ottoman Empire, Suleiman. Suleiman was a powerful ruler who led the Ottoman Empire to its peak in the 16th century.

The title of certain Muslim rulers who claimed full sovereignty. Sultan. A sultan is a historical Muslim ruler with complete authority over a region or empire.

The largest branch of Islam. Sunni. Sunni Islam is a major branch of Islam that recognizes the first four caliphs as rightful successors of Prophet Muhammad.

A white tomb built in the 16th century by the Shah Jahan in memory of his wife. Taj Mahal. It is a famous monument in India, built as a symbol of love.

The capital of Iran, chosen by the Qajar dynasty in the 18th century, is Tehran. Tehran is the bustling capital city of Iran with a rich history and cultural significance.

The ruling family of caliphate and later of Islamic Spain. Umayyads. The Umayyads were a dynasty that first ruled the Islamic Caliphate and later governed parts of Spain, extending Islamic influence across a vast territory.

A Muhammad's destination in his migration from Mecca. Yathrib. Yathrib is the ancient name for Medina, the city where Muhammad and his followers migrated to in 622 CE, marking the beginning of the Islamic calendar.