Name __________________________________________________ Date ______________________________

Assessment: The Origins and Spread of Islam

Mastering the Content

Select the letter next to the best answer.

1. Why is the city of Mecca important in Muslim tradition?A. Most Muslims today live there.B. It was the birthplace of Muhammad. CORRECTC. It was the capital of the Umayyad empire.D. Muhammad moved there with his followers.

2. What took Muhammad to places beyond the Arabian Peninsula?A. searching for a wifeB. herding the family goatsC. conquering a vast empireD. making caravan trips for trade CORRECT

3. Before Muhammad was born, the people of Arabia were united byA. a belief in one God.B. a single social class.C. a common language. CORRECTD. a central government.

4. What geographic feature made Mecca a wealthy city?

A. sheltered harborB. deep mountain forestsC. location on trade routes CORRECTD. oasis water for agriculture

5. According to Islamic teachings, what did the angel Gabriel tell Muhammad to do?A. teach monotheism CORRECTB. defeat the Syrian rulersC. write down the most important lawsD. flee to the deserts of North Africa

6. The word Muslim means one whoA. surrenders to God. CORRECTB. follows Muhammad.C. preaches the one true faith.D. practices kindness toward all.

7. Why is the Qur’an the holy book of Islam?

A. It tells the story of Muhammad's life and death.B. It records the words of God spoken by Gabriel. CORRECTC. It is a collection of sermons by the prophet Muhammad.D. It records the history of the Arabs and the spread of Islam.

8. What teaching by Muhammad most upset the leaders of Mecca?A. Children should learn to read.B. Women should have more rights.C. The rich should share their wealth. CORRECTD. Trade with unbelievers was wrong.

9. Why did the leaders of Mecca want to keep polytheism?

A. It taught people to obey them.B. It kept peace among the tribes.C. It let them sell expensive idols.D. It brought pilgrims to their city. CORRECT

10. How did some clans boycott Muhammad’s clan?A. by tearing down their storesB. by shutting them up in cavesC. by staging a seige of MedinaD. by refusing to do business with them CORRECT

11. What is said to have happened on Muhammad’s Night Journey?A. A winged horse-like creature took him to Jerusalem. CORRECTB. He met an angel in a cave near his home.C. He fled from Mecca to another city for safety.D. He visited his sleeping followers just before he died.

12. What action by Muhammad in Medina made that city important to his followers?A. He prayed with Abraham, Moses, and Jesus.B. He lived there while he drew more people to Islam. CORRECTC. He tore down the city walls and destroyed the ancient shrines.D. He delivered his Last Sermon, announcing that he would retire.

13. How did the Muslim empire treat Jews and Christians differently from Muslims?A. It charged them extra taxes. CORRECTB. It made them leave the empire.C. It outlawed use of their prayers.D. It burned their houses of worship.

14. After the first four caliphs, what changed in the Muslim empire?A. The Qur'an was respected.B. Leaders stopped making war.C. Islam split into two branches. CORRECTD. Egyptian nomads took power.

15. Which question separated the two branches of Islam?A. Is it wise to expand the empire?B. Should nonbelievers be punished?C. Should religious pictures of humans be permitted?D. Must a caliph be descended from Muhammad? CORRECT

16. How did the Umayyads contribute to the spread of Islam?A. As wealthy traders, they spread Arab ideas.B. As a ruling family, they conquered new lands. CORRECTC. As wandering preachers, they attracted converts.D. As scholars, they translated the Qur'an into other languages.

Applying Social Studies Skills

Use the map and your knowledge of history to complete the sentences below.

17. Damascus was the capital of the Muslim empire for many years. A camel caravan going east acrossthe desert from Damascus would arrive at the Persian city of

ANSWER: Baghdad.

18. In addition to camel caravans, Arab traders traveled by ships from ports in which three bodies ofwater?

ANSWER: Red Sea, Mediterranean Sea, Persian Gulf (any order)

19. At which battle did Charles Martel prevent Muslim armies from conquering more of Europe? Inwhat present-day nation did this battle occur?

ANSWER: Battle of Tours, France

Exploring the Essential Question: How did Islam originate and spread?

20. Select three events or developments that you believe were important to the origins and spread ofIslam.•The first should be important to the origin of Islam.•The second should be important to the spread of Islam in Muhammad’s lifetime.•The third should be important to the spread of Islam after Muhammad’s death in 632 C.E. Youmay use the map on the previous page for reference.

Describe each event and why you think it was important to the origin and spread of Islam. Usecomplete sentences.

ANSWER: