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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. When Muhammad preached, did he have any intention of forming a new religion?

2. What empire spread into the Arab lands?

3. Did Muhammad write the suras of the Quran?

4. What does Jahiliyah mean?

5. What did many scholars like Martin Luther feel that Christianity would be overcome by?

Short Essay Questions

1. What happened in 610?

2. How have the feelings of Europeans towards Muslims developed since the initial fear and hatred began? What has caused this development? To what have these feelings towards Muslims led?

3. Describe the Muslim world despite the influence of imperialist beliefs in the Western world.

4. Describe Muhammad's role in the creation of the Quran.

5. What holy places were important to the Arabs? Why were these places so important?

6. Describe the Quraysh tribe.

7. According to Armstrong, on what are most Western views of Islam based?

8. What happens when Salman Rushdie publishes The Satanic Verses? How is this act a reminder of other acts against Islam by Muslims?

9. How did the Renaissance help relations between Islam and Christianity?

10. What happened regarding Islam in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Muhammad was very successful after the move to Medina.

Part 1) Describe the events leading up to the move to Medina. Why was Muhammad so successful in Medina? How did this affect the Quran? Was Muhammad's success good for the people of Arabia? Why or why not? Was it good for Islam? Why or why not?

Part 2) How does Muhammad's power affect him? How does this compare to those in power today?

Part 3) How dose Islam today reflect Muhammad's power at this time? Is this good or bad? Why?

Essay Topic 2

Armstrong compares the writings of the Quran with Christian writings.

Part 1) Describe the comparison. Why do these similarities and differences exist?

Part 2) What is Armstrong's purpose in comparing these two religious writings? How does this support her purpose for writing this book?

Part 3) Why might Armstrong have such an attachment to Islam? How does this attachment affect her beliefs and actions?

Part 4) To what do you have a strong attachment? Why? How does this affect and influence you?

Essay Topic 3

Salman Rushdie published The Satanic Verses.

Part 1) Who is Salman Rushdie? Why did he publish The Satanic Verses?

Part 2) What was the reaction to these verses? How might these have affected Muslim relations with non-Muslims? Why?

Part 3) How does this attitude by Muslims towards Islam reflect the attitudes and actions of Muslims found throughout history? Why do these attitudes exist, and why do these actions take place?

Part 4) Have other religious groups or individuals had similar difficult situations? If so, when and why? If not, why not?

(see the answer keys)

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