Ch. 6 Vocabulary (AP World History)

Nomadic pastoralists of the Arabian peninsula; culture based on camel and goat nomadism; early converts to Islam.

Leaders of tribes and clans within bedouin society; usually men with large herds, several wives, and many children

City located in mountainous region along Red Sea in Arabian peninsula; founded by Umayyad clan of Quraysh; site of Ka'ba; orginal home of Muhammad; location of cheif religious pilgramage point in Islam

Also known as Yathrib; town located northeast of Mecca; grew date palms whose fruit was sold to bedouins; became refuge for Muhammad following flight from Mecca

Clan of Quraysh that dominated politics and commercial economy of Mecca; clan later able to establish dynasty as rulers of Islam

Most revered religious shrine in pre-Islamic Arabia; located in Mecca; focus on obligatory annual truce among bedouin tribes; later incorporated as important shrine in Islam

Recitations of revelations received by Muhammad; holy book of Islam

Community of the faithful within Islam; transcended old tribal boundaries to create degree of political unity

Tax for charity; obligatory for all Muslims

The obligatory religious duties of all Muslims; confession of faith, prayer, fasting during Ramadan, zakat, and hajj

The political and religious successor to Muhammad

Cousin and son-in-law of Muhammad; one of orthodox caliphs; focus for Shi'a.

Companion of 1st muslim leader after Muhammad. Regarded by Sunni's as the 1st caliph and rightful succesor. The Shi'ah regard him as a traitor of Muhammad. Known as best interpretter of dreams following Muhammad's death.

Wars that followed muhammad's death in 632; resulted in defeat of rival prophets and some of larger clans; restored unity of Islam

Struggle; often used for wars in defense of the faith