1. Warm Up – March 5
Grab the handout from the front table and answer the following questions on a post it:
1. Describe a difference in the Mongol invasions in Russia and China
2. Describe the administrative policies of the Mongols in China (who was able to have the higher ranking positions, who took the lower positions in government)
3. Describe the Mongols Religious policies? Which religions existed within the Mongol Empire?
4. What was the major goal of the Mongols in China? What did they need to do with aspects of China’s administrative policies and culture in order to achieve this goal?
5. What was the main goal of the Mongol invasion in China? Why did the Mongols conquer Russia but not stay in Russia?
6. In Islam, what are the greater jihad and less jihad?
7. Explain the differences in how Islam was spread in Trans-Saharan Africa and in Southeast Asia?

2. Spread of Islam DBQ Practice
How did Islamic civilization spread to encompass such an extensive empire?
Thesis (1-2 Sentences)
The Islam civilization spread to different parts of Africa, Southeast Asia and Europe using force, spreading a message of equality and through trade.
Contextualization (2 – 3 sentences)
Basing its beliefs on the teachings of Muhammed, Islam’s origins began on the Arabian Peninsula. A location which allowed it to be influenced to become a monotheistic religion and share similarities with Judaism and Christianity. The religion would eventually spread and encompass an empire that included parts of Africa, Europe and Southeast Asia.

3. How did Islamic civilization spread to encompass such an extensive empire?
The Islam civilization spread to different parts of Africa, Southeast Asia and Europe by using force, by spreading a message of equality and through trade. Basing its beliefs on the teachings of Muhammed, Islam’s origins began on the Arabian Peninsula. This location allowed it to be influenced by two monotheistic religions; Christianity and Judaism. The religion would eventually spread and encompass an empire that included parts of Africa, Europe and Southeast Asia.

4. Grouping Paragraph
Documents 1,2, and 4 illustrate how Islam spread through force. In document, a Christian Arab tribe leader is giving the choice to believe the messages of Islam or pay tribute. Given this choice, many tribe leaders would have chose converting to Islam instead of having their family members killed. This is further illustrated by document 2 which describes how the Quran offers the specific directions of following Islam or being punished. Document 4 describes the brutality of the Muslim forces as they conquer Franks. The description of how “Moslems struck their enemies and laid waste to the country” shows why many would submit to the Muslims and convert to Islam.

5. Grouping Paragraphs
Documents 3, 5, and 6 illustrate how Islam was able to spread by spreading its message of equality. Document 3 describes Muhammed as being unable to distinguish the low from the high, the master from the slave. This equality is demonstrated in document 5 when it states that Muhammed respected the other two monotheistic religions and allowed Jews and Christians to worship freely. Document 6 compares the spread of Islam to the spread of Christianity stating that unlike Christianity, Islam simply required a guarantee of tribute and peace in return for protection. This document is written by a Muslim writer so their point of view may be more favorable to how Islam was spread, especially when compared to Christianity.

6. Conclusion - Additional Evidence
First sentence of the conclusion – state which of the three reasons you think is most responsible for the spread of Islam. Then support it by adding evidence that is NOT included in the documents (this is your additional evidence)
Of these reasons, trade played the most significant role in the spread of Islam. Additional evidence shows that because of trade, Islam was able to spread to Sub-Sarahan Africa where its combining of political and religious powers appealed to tribal leaders. Indian Ocean Trade allowed Islam to spread to India where it was embraced by Buddhists and members of Hinduism’s lower castes.

7. Period 3: 600-1450 (Regional and Trans-regional interaction
Trans-Saharan Trade

8. The Sand Roads Trans-Saharan trade route
Linked North Africa and the Mediterranean world with West Africa

9. Trans-Saharan Trade
Like the Silk and Sea Roads  this trade begins as a result of environmental variation
What does each region have to offer?
North African coastal areas = cloth, glassware, weapons, books
Sahara region = copper and salt
Savanna grasslands = grain crops
Sub-Saharan forests = tree crops like yam and kola nuts

10. Trans-Saharan Trade Made possible by the CAMEL!
1st traders = camel-owning people from desert oases
Major traders became = North African Muslim Arabs
What did they come to West Africa and sub-Saharan Africa for?
GOLD!, ivory, kola nuts, slaves
Gave in return: SALT!, horses, cloth, weapons, tools

11. Caravans As many as 5,000 camels Hundreds of people
Travelling at night
Length of journey = about 70 days
15-20 miles walked per day

12. Construction of Empires
New wealth and resources from trans-Saharan trade allowed some regions to construct large empires or city-states
Between 500 and 1600 CE
Major empires = Mali, Ghana, and Songhai

13. West African Empires All monarchies
Drew upon wealth of trans-Saharan trade
Relied on slaves
Females used as = domestic servants and sex slaves
Males used as = state officials, craftsmen, miners, agricultural laborers

14. Cities Within the Kingdoms
Urban and commercial centers
Traders met and exchanged goods there
Centers of manufacturing
Items created: beads, iron tools, cotton textiles, etc.
Largely Islamic
Mosque in Timbuktu (in Mali)

15. TOD: Golden Age of Empires Reading
Take Notes while reading focusing on the following topics:
Describe the Bantu political and religious structure
What is animism?
What religion was dominant in Ethiopia?
Ghana – What did control of the tran—Saharan gold trade allow Ghana to control?
Why did Ghana kings convert to Islam? What effect did Islam have on the rest of the civilization?
Mali – Compare Mali and Ghana
Songhai – how did Sonni Ali use Islam to centralize his power?
What is the significance of Timbuktu?