Non-fiction: Islam The Spread of Islam Islam The Spread of Islam Muhammad The most important person to the Islamic religion was Muhammad. He was born in 570 C.E. Muslims believe that Muhammad heard the Angel Gabriel speaking the words of God to him. Muhammad was about 40 when this happened. He began to recite 1 the words to other people everywhere he went. Eventually these words were recorded in the Quran, the book of the Muslim faith. Islam spread because of Muhammad. By the time he died at 63, most of the Arabic speaking world was Muslim. Before the end of the next century, Islam had spread as far as China in one direction and Spain in the other. Islam also spread to parts of North and West Africa. Crusades At first Muhammad and his followers were persecuted 2 for their beliefs. They had to move away from Mecca. As more and more people began to follow Muhammad, Islam gained more power. Muslims and non-muslim people fought, each hoping to spread their own beliefs. In the 7 th and 8 th centuries, Muslims fought many wars in defense of Islam. At the end of the 8 th century, The Byzantine Empire, which was once Christian, became Islamic. Many Muslim people moved to Jerusalem to spread the teachings of Islam. However this city was also the most important holy city for Christians. At first the Muslim leaders allowed Christians to keep worshipping. Then Muslim fighters completely captured the city and refused to let Christians worship there. Christians all over Europe were outraged. 3 They began to travel to Jerusalem to fight the Muslims and recapture the city. All the trips of Christians from Europe to Jerusalem and the battles fought in Jerusalem at this time were known as the Crusades. A crusade is any mission, and often means a religious mission or a 1 recite to say out loud by heart 2 persecuted treated unfairly and cruelly 3 outraged extremely angry 1
Non-fiction: Islam The Spread of Islam holy war. Christians and Muslims fought over Jerusalem for many years. The city has changed hands many times since the 1100 s when the Crusades started. Ghana Muslim people also moved to North African nations like Egypt and Ethiopia. They also spread to Northwest Africa. Muslims were very important to the ancient kingdom of Ghana. Muslim traders brought Ghana silver, horses, copper, and spices in return for slaves and gold. They brought their ideas with their goods, and some Muslim people stayed in Ghana. Muslims had helpful ways to keep track of all their sales, and they shared this with Ghana s king. As a result of their wisdom, 4 many Muslims served as advisors to the king. There was a large group of Muslims living in a city right outside the city of Ghana. Though many Africans continued to follow traditional religions, others converted to Islam. Map-making Muslims traveled often. During the middles ages Christians were very isolated, but Muslims were in the middle of a busy trade route. They were interested in exploring. In 830 A.D. a Muslim scholar named Al-Khwarizmi drew the first map of the world known to exist. 4 wisdom great knowledge or learning 2
Questions: Islam The Spread of Islam Name: Date: 1. Why did Muslims move to Jerusalem? a. To spread the teachings of Islam. b. To avoid persecution for practicing Islam. c. To conquer the Christians living there. d. Jerusalem was an important Islamic religious center. 2. Why did the Crusades begin? a. The Muslims had taken over Jerusalem. b. The Muslims started a war in Jerusalem. c. The Muslims took over the Byzantine Empire. d. The Muslims refused to let Christians in Jerusalem practice their faith. 3. Which statement is NOT a way Muslims were important to the kingdom of Ghana? a. They provided silver and other goods in exchange for slaves and gold. b. They converted all of Ghana to Islam. c. They worked as advisors to the kings of Ghana. d. They shared their system of keeping track of sales. 4. Why was Muhammed important to Islam? a. He was the leader of all Arab countries. b. He created the first known map of the world. c. He spread Islamic teachings throughout the world. d. He was an advisor to the kings of Ghana. 5. The passage The Spread of Islam is mostly about a. the differences between different types of Muslims b. how Islam spread around the world c. the life of Muhammad d. how the Crusades influenced Islam 3
Questions: Islam The Spread of Islam 6. Why were Muslims interested in exploring during the middle ages? 7. Why would having maps help people trade? 8. The question below is an incomplete sentence. Choose the word that best completes the sentence. Ghana s king wanted some Muslims to advise him he believed they were wise. a. before b. although c. including d. because 9. Answer the following questions based on the sentence below. Followers of Mohammad spread Islam to places as far away as China. Who? followers of Mohammad (did) What? Where? 10. Vocabulary Word: persecuted: treated unfairly and cruelly. Use the vocabulary word in a sentence: 4
Answers: Islam The Spread of Islam Passage Reading Level: Lexile 830 Teacher Guide and Answers Featured Text Structure: Descriptive the writer explains, defines or illustrates a concept or topic Passage Summary: Islam first started spreading because of Muhammad, who was born in 570 C.E. It eventually spread as far as China, Spain, and West Africa. Muslims and Christians fought over Jerusalem, while Muslims were advisors to the king in Ghana, Africa. 1. Why did Muslims move to Jerusalem? a. To spread the teachings of Islam. b. To avoid persecution for practicing Islam. c. To conquer the Christians living there. d. Jerusalem was an important Islamic religious center. 2. Why did the Crusades begin? a. The Muslims had taken over Jerusalem. b. The Muslims started a war in Jerusalem. c. The Muslims took over the Byzantine Empire. d. The Muslims refused to let Christians in Jerusalem practice their faith. 3. Which statement is NOT a way Muslims were important to the kingdom of Ghana? a. They provided silver and other goods in exchange for slaves and gold. b. They converted all of Ghana to Islam. c. They worked as advisors to the kings of Ghana. d. They shared their system of keeping track of sales. 4. Why was Muhammed important to Islam? a. He was the leader of all Arab countries. b. He created the first known map of the world. c. He spread Islamic teachings throughout the world. d. He was an advisor to the kings of Ghana. 5. The passage The Spread of Islam is mostly about a. the differences between different types of Muslims b. how Islam spread around the world c. the life of Muhammad d. how the Crusades influenced Islam 5
Answers: Islam The Spread of Islam 6. Why were Muslims interested in exploring during the middle ages? Suggested answer: Muslims were interested in exploring during the middle ages because they were involved in trade, and they wanted to learn about new trade routes. There were also Muslim scholars who were interested in making maps. 7. Why would having maps help people trade? Suggested answer: Having maps would help people trade because many people have to travel to trade, and maps help them know the fastest, safest, and most desirable routes to travel from one place to another. 8. The question below is an incomplete sentence. Choose the word that best completes the sentence. Ghana s king wanted some Muslims to advise him he believed they were wise. a. before b. although c. including d. because 9. Answer the following questions based on the sentence below. Followers of Mohammad spread Islam to places as far away as China. Who? followers of Mohammad (did) What? spread Islam Where? to places as far away as China 10. Vocabulary Word: persecuted: treated unfairly and cruelly. Use the vocabulary word in a sentence: answers may vary. 6