1. The Byzantine Empire
In this lesson, students will be able to identify significant characteristics of the Byzantine Empire.
Students will be able to identify and/or define the following terms:
Eastern Roman Empire
Orthodox Christianity
Byzantine Influence on Russia

2. The Byzantine Empire was formerly the
Eastern Roman Empire.

3. The Eastern Roman Empire
The Western Roman Empire fell in 476 A.D.
However, the eastern portion of the empire survived. It began the Byzantine Empire.
The Byzantine Empire survived for one thousand years after the fall of Rome.

4. The Byzantine Empire survived for one
thousand years after the fall of Rome.

5. A Natural Location for Trade
The Byzantine Empire was located between Europe and Asia.
It was a natural location for trade.
The Byzantine Empire became wealthy from trade.

6. The Byzantine Empire became wealthy
from trade.

7. Orthodox Christianity
The Byzantines developed their own form of Christianity, Orthodox Christianity.
Greek is the official language of the Orthodox Christian Church.
Orthodox Christians do not recognize the Pope in Rome as their leader.

8. In 1054 A.D., the Orthodox Christian
Church officially split from the Roman
Catholic Church in the Great Schism.

9. The Hagia Sophia was a Byzantine Church and an architectural marvel.

10. Byzantine Influence on Russia
The Byzantine Empire greatly influenced Russia.
Byzantine missionaries established Orthodox Christian churches in Russia.
Byzantine missionaries even created an alphabet, the Cyrillic alphabet, to write the Bible in Russian.

11. Do you see the Byzantine influence in this Russian Orthodox Church?

12. Justinian Byzantine Emperors held absolute power.
The Byzantine Emperor, Justinian, collected all Roman written laws.
The Code of Justinian is a collection of Roman written law.

13. Justinian was a Byzantine Emperor. He
ordered the collection of Roman law.

14. Questions for Reflection:
What became of the Eastern Roman Empire with the fall of Rome in 476 A.D.?
Why was the Byzantine Empire able to prosper from trade?
How did the Orthodox Christian Church differ from the Roman Catholic Church?
Who was Justinian and what did he do?
What was the Hagia Sophia?

15. The Five Pillars of the Faith
Islam
In this lesson, students will be able to identify characteristics of Islam.
Students will be able to identify and/or define the following terms:
Muhammad
The Five Pillars of the Faith
Muslim (Moslem)
Koran (Qu’ran)

16. Saudi Arabia
is a country
in the Middle
East. It is also
the birthplace
of the world
religion, Islam.

17. Muhammad Muhammad was born in Mecca, Arabia.
He became involved in the Arabian caravan trade.
He eventually married a wealthy widow and spent many hours meditating and praying in the caves around Mecca.

18. Muhammad was
a religious man.
He frequently
meditated and
prayed in the
caves around
Mecca.

19. One day,
Muhammad
believed
that God
spoke to him
through
an angel.

20. By the 600s A.D.,
a new religion
was founded.
The religion of Islam
is based on the
revelations of
the Prophet
Muhammad.

21. Monotheism
Muhammad believed that the one, true God had spoken to him. Muhammad became a monotheist.
Muhammad believed that the God who spoke to him was the same God of the Jews and Christians.
Muhammad believed that he was the Seal of the Prophets or God’s final prophet.

22. The Koran or
Qu’ran is the
holy book of
Islam. Muslims
or Moslems
(the followers of
Islam) believe
that the words
of the Koran are
God’s words to
Muhammad.

23. At one point, Muhammad and his followers
had to flee Mecca and go to Medina. This
is called the Hegira or Hijra.

24. The Five Pillars of the Faith
The Five Pillars of the Faith are five critical beliefs or actions for Muslims or followers of Muhammad.
The Five Pillars are:
To believe in One God
To Pray Five Times a Day Facing Mecca
To Give Alms or Charity to the Poor
To Fast During the Month of Ramadan from Sunrise to Sunset
To Make a Pilgrimage to Mecca if Able

25. Muslims
are not
allowed
to drink
alcohol.

26. Muslims are not allowed to eat pork.

27. The religion of Islam allows a man
to marry four wives. It allows polygamy.

28. Questions for Reflection:
Who was Muhammad?
What is the Koran?
List the Five Pillars of the Faith.
Who is a Muslim and what are Muslims forbidden to do?
What was the Hegira?
What do Jews, Christians, and Muslims have in common?

29. The Golden Age of Islamic Culture
In this lesson, students will be able to identify characteristics of the Islamic golden age.
Students will be able to identify and/or define the following terms:
Golden Age
Islamic Advances in Science and Mathematics
Mosques
Geometric Designs

30. A golden age is a time of peace, prosperity,
and great cultural achievements.

31. Golden Age
Many cultures experienced golden ages, including the Greeks and Guptas.
A golden age is a time of peace, prosperity, and great cultural achievements.
An Islamic golden age occurred during the Abbasid dynasty (8th century to 13th century).

32. Islam spread through conquest and trade.
The Abbasid dynasty ruled a vast empire.

33. The Islamic Golden Age The Muslims experienced a golden age.
During the Islamic golden age, there were great advances in mathematics, medicine, architecture, and the arts.
It is important to remember that under the Abbasids, Islam became a blending of many cultures leading to great achievements.

34. Muhammad forbade making images of God
or people. Islamic artists frequently used
geometric designs in their works of
art.

35. Muslim rulers built beautiful mosques. A
mosque is an Islamic house of worship.

36. Muslim
doctors
discovered
that blood
moves to
and from
the
heart.

37. Muslims borrowed the concept of zero
from India and developed Arabic numerals.

38. Muslim
mathematicians
also
made
advances
in algebra
and geometry.

39. While much of Islamic literature was based
on the Qur’an, stories like Aladdin were
popular too.

40. The vast Abbasid trading network encouraged cultural diffusion.

41. Questions for Reflection:
What is a golden age?
List three cultures that experienced golden ages.
Why did Islamic civilization experience a golden age?
What is a mosque?
List two advances in mathematics and science that occurred during the Islamic golden age.
Why did Islamic artists rely on geometric designs?