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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. How was the Muslim Empire viewed?

2. Were there any scriptures for Islam?

3. Christians have been reluctant to acknowledge that Muslims worship the same God as they and the Jews do. What do many of them view Islam as?

4. In the Quran, what is presented first?

5. With what was conversion to monotheism associated?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. Why were Muslims seen as pagans and many Christians attempted to convert them?

3. How did Muhammad's revelation differ from other forms of revelation?

4. According to Armstrong, where do most Western views of Islam stem from? What facts does she give about Islam?

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

6. What is Jahiliyah?

7. What happened in 610?

8. When and why did Muhammad begin sharing God's message?

9. How does Armstrong compare the Quran with Christian writings?

10. Describe Arab life at this time.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Europe was actively fighting Islam by the eleventh century.

Part 1) What led to this fighting? Why does this fighting occur? How does this fighting reflect the views of Christians and Muslims?

Part 2) How are these views still seen today? How does this fighting continue today?

Part 3) How can this fighting end, according to Armstrong? Do you agree? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

Muhammad had his greatest mystical experience while staying with his sister.

Part 1) Describe this mystical experience. What is your reaction to hearing this story? Is it surprising? Why or why not?

Part 2) How did this mystical experience change Muhammad, as well as the Quran? How does it also change the religion of Islam?

Part 3) Do you believe mystical experiences such as this can really take place? Why or why not? How might a mystical experience change your own life?

Essay Topic 3

The Arabs united under Muhammad's teachings.

Part 1) Describe Muhammad's teachings. How did they unify the Arabs?

Part 2) How did the Arabs benefit from this unification? Why and how did some also fight it? Why was Muhammad ultimately successful? How is this success seen today?

Part 3) How have groups of people unified under other leaders and other religions? What do these people and religions all have in common that lead to unification?

(see the answer keys)

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