| A | B |
|---|
| Islam | monotheistic religion that is related to Judaism and Christianity but believes that Muhammad is Allah's most important prophet |
| Muhammad | founder of Islam, he is considered to be Islam's most important prophet |
| 5 pillars | the key duties and beliefs of Islam. (monotheism, prayer, alms, fasting and hajj) |
| Mecca | holiest city for Islam, it is the site of the Kaa'ba. |
| Medina | 1st city to adopt Islam, it is Islam's second holiest site. |
| Ali | cousin of Muhammad who eventually became Caliph, after his death Islam was split into 2 branches |
| Caliph | leader of the Muslim community after the death of muhammad |
| Sunni Islam | branch of Islam that believes the Caliph can be anyone from the Muslim community |
| Shia Islam | branch of Islam that believes the Caliph should be a descendant or relative of Muhammad |
| The Quran | Islam's holy book, it is believed to be a collection of messages from Allah revealed to Muhammad |
| The Kaa'ba | Site in Mecca dedicated to Allah. Muslims direct their prayer towards this site. |
| House of Wisdom | famous Islamic university in Baghdad. It was the leading school during Islam's Golden age |
| Baghdad | Capital city of Islamic empire during the Golden Age, it was eventually conquered by the Mongols in the 1200s |
| Calligraphy | decorative writing, in Islam they often use this instead of images in religious art |
| Battle of Tours | battle where the Islamic armies were defeated in Western Europe, stopping their expansion |
| Mongols | group of nomadic warriors that destroyed the Muslim city of Baghdad and devastated the Muslim empire |
| Syria and Damascus | major cities of the Byzantine Empire, both were conquered in the early days of the Islamic empire |
| The Dome of the Rock | Famous Islamic shrine/holy site in Jerusalem. It is the most famous |
| Axum | famous East African Kingdom, first Christian Kingdom in the world |
| King Ezana | leader of Kingdom of Axum, converted his kingdom to Chrsitianity |
| Ghana, Mali, and Songhai | famous West African kingdoms known for trading Salt and Gold |
| Timbuktu | famous city in West Africa, it was the center for the Gold and Salt trade |
| Niger River | main river for WEST Africa |
| Zambezi River | main river for SOUTHERN Africa |
| Nile River | Main river for EAST Africa |
| Swahili | trade language that developed in East Africa |
| Mansa Musa | famous leader of Mail, whose massive wealth was displayed on his Hajj to Mecca |
| Animism | belief in spirits in nature. In West Africa it would blend with the beliefs of Islam. |
| Anansi | famous myth figure in W. African Animism that was believed to possess knowledge of all the world's stories |
