1. how did the environment of arabia serve as a form of protection during much of the region's history?

a.

its fertile oases enabled farmers to grow enough food for themselves and for sale.
b.

its extreme heat and arid conditions kept invaders from attacking settlements.
c.

its landlocked location prevented traders from bringing in foreign goods.
d.

its mountainous regions kept farmers from mesopotamia from moving in for better land.

2. during the month of ramadan, muslims take part in which is one of the five pillars of islam.

a. a pilgrimage
b. a period of silence
c. daily fasting
d. religious feasting

3. the source of islamic thought that describes the words and actions of muhammad is called the
a. quran
b. sunnah
c. eid al-fitr
d. sharia

4. which of the following is a belief shared by sunnis and shias?
a. that only descendants of muhammad should be caliph
b. that any righteous male muslim can be chosen as caliph
c. that the sunnah is the most important text of islamic faith
d. that imams are divinely inspired muslim leaders

5. according to muslim belief, muhammad was praying in a cave when he had a revelation in which he was told to
a. preach that there was one true god.
b. found the holy city of mecca
c. conquer the arabian peninsula
d. build a shrine for pilgrims to visit.

6. which factor spread islam
a. people were looking for new beliefs.
b. merchants carried the faith to new lands.
c. rulers required residents to convert.
d. people found new ideas easier to follow.

7. drag and drop the social divisions in the arab muslim empire to arrange them with those at the top of society to those at the bottom of society.

slaves

arab muslims

non-arab muslims

jews and christians

8. who did shias think should succeed muhammad? 

a. a relative of muhammad
b. one of the "rightly guided caliphs"
c. a member of the umayyad dynasty
d. someone who had won many battle

9. which group established the first muslim dynasty?

a. safavids
b. umayyads
c. abbasids
d. mongols

1.How did the environment of Arabia serve as a form of protection during much of the region's history?

B is the correct answer

Although the Arabian Peninsula is located in a strategic place close to regions where large empires developed, the natural conditions served as protection because almost all of it is formed by desert territory. The Arabian desert is very hot, it´s covered by sand, it has not permanent bodies of water and it's surrounded by mountains. Those conditions made definitively difficult the entry of possible invaders.

2. During the month of Ramadan, Muslims take part in which is one of the Five Pillars of Islam.

C is the correct answer

Every Muslim practice daily fasting from dawn until sunset in Ramadan which is the ninth month in Muslim calendar.

The five pillars that every Muslim must fulfill are:

the profession of faith, the prayer, charity, fasting and the pilgrimage to Mecca.

3. The source of Islamic thought that describes the words and actions of Muhammad is called the .

B is the correct answer

Sunnah is a collection of writings by the contemporaries of Prophet Muhammad that describe his life, the teachings given by him (including the Quran) and the practical application of these teachings based on the example of his consequent facts and actions.  

Sunnah is considered the second primary sources of Islam after the Quran.  

4. Which of the following is a belief shared by Sunnis and Shias?

D. is the correct answer

Sunnis and Shias have strong differences in their structure of political and social authorities but they agree that the imams are spiritual leaders chosen and inspired by Allah and both of them recognize their authority.

5. According to Muslim belief, Muhammad was praying in a cave when he had a revelation in which he was told to .

A is the correct answer

Muslims believe that when Muhammad was praying in a cave, the archangel Gabriel appeared and told him to preach on Alá, the only God and reveal the recitations that were collected in the Quran.

6. Which factor helped spread Islam

C is the better answer

All the responses indicate factors that helped to expand Islam, but the most determining factor in the rapid expansion of Islam in various regions was a series of very successful military invasions that did not annihilate the people or replace their rulers but only they imposed certain taxes and requested their conversion to Islam.

7. Drag and drop the social divisions in the Arab Muslim empire to arrange them with those at the top of society to those at the bottom of society.  

The order from top to bottom is the following:

Arab Muslims: Muslims who were born in Arabia and who participated in the conquest of territories and their descendants had the greatest privileges.  

non-Arab Muslims: non-Arab Muslims belonging to conquered territories had to be accepted by an Arab patron and enjoyed fewer privileges.

Jews and Christians: Jews and Christians had a special respect in Muslim society because they were considered members of book religions. However they paid double taxes than non-Arab Muslims.

slaves: the Muslim conquerors took as slaves people from various regions who invaded militarily and sold them in regions completely controlled by them.

8. Who did Shias think should succeed Muhammad?

A. is the correct answer

The Shias (the second major branch of Islam) are considered followers of Ali (cousin and son-in-law of the Prophet Muhammad) and the central point of their difference from the Sunni (the first major branch of Islam) is the belief that the descendants of relatives of Muhammad must be the rulers of Islamic territories.

9. Which group established the first Muslim dynasty?

B. is the correct answer

The first Muslim dynasty was established by the Umayyads in 661 with capital initially in Damascus and they ruled until 750.

The Abbasids took the power in 750 centered the Califato in Baghdad and other cities until about 1517.  

The Mongols invaded the empire from 1206 to 1258.

The Safavids ruled from 1501 to 1722 with center in the actual Iran.