Islam Outline

• geography
• language
• Radnishnishnikan moments >> collapse of Sassanid & Roman empires >> disruption
• tribal culture
• trade

origins =

• "Arab" etymology
  • see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab_(etymology)

Social Classes

• From the Koran:
  • Arabic muslims
  • non-Arabic muslims
    • non-muslim professionasl (limited rights)
      • slaves
      • Koran defines rules for treatment of slaves
      • female slaves allowed entrance to Islmaic society as war earning

• Questions for students
  • Why is northern Africa considered part of the Arab World?
  • What were the long-term impacts of European colonialism on the Arab World?
  • What is the religious importance of Saudi Arabia?
  • What is the importance of Arabic to Islam?
  • What is the historical importance of the Fertile Crescent?
  • List some of the important economic activities of the Arab World.�6. List some of the principal geographic features of this region.
  • Why was Israel started?
  • What are the core elements to the Arab identity?
  • What is the meaning of the word “Islam”?
  • What are the principle Muslim sects? Why did they form? What distinguishes them?
  • Explain the causes of the Arab-Isreali conflict and its world-wide impact.