Mid East Exam

1.

1 point

When the Ottomans fail to reconstruct their authority and the Mamluks get weak, this new "politically savvy" man comes in with the plan to modernize Egypt. Who is he?

2.

1 point

Which of the following are reasons for the end of the Abbasids? (multiple correct answers)

corruption; coups and violence

the rest of the world was moving forward at such a faster rate than the Abbasids; they couldn't keep up

the fragmentation of the Caliphate

the birth of many different varieties of Shia, the ME is not homogenous

the edges of the Abbasid empire were breaking off

their cash crop was not in demand anymore, so all the resources that were put into producing this crop went to waste, and left them short of money, resources, and enough land

3.

2 points

___ were slaves of the Sultan, and part of a bigger group called the Devshirme. They were able to make their way up the system, ensured political and financial protection to the empire, and each ___ was picked based on talent and ability, not race.

Janissaries

Hurrem

Ulama

Eunuchs

4.

2 points

After Muhammed's death, which of the following is the best choice for what happened to the society?

the leadership after his death resulted in a solidified but split community

Christians and Jews started being taxed, but not Muslims

Abu Bakr took over and successfully kept the Ummah together

religion and government were separated under Abu Bakr's rule

5.

2 points

What made Sufism so popular?

Sufism offered people an opportunity to relieve themselves of the pressures of the world they lived in at the time

people needed a fresh new religion so that they could escape conflict and judgement from disagreeing religions

because its practices allowed people to leave reality and reach a total one-ness with God

the name sounded pretty cool

6.

1 point

The belief that whatever happens, happens. Their fate was out of their control, it was up to God.

7.

1 point

Each of the following are big reasons for the decline of the Ottomans EXCEPT

prices went up and the value of money went down; inflation

they didn't keep up with military technology because they thought they were already so advanced

the tax rates went down because there was already so much money in circulation as a result of the European discovery of gold and silver in South America

the Janissaries ended up forming their own separate social class with personal interests and political goals; merit system broke down

8.

1 point

In the great Coffee Debate in the 1500s, what made people question whether or not they should continue drinking coffee?

since coffee was getting popular, it spread to other places very quickly. People didn't want other regions to have access to it, since it meant that the demand for coffee would decrease.

since alcohol was banned in the Qur'an, people thought that coffee should be banned as well because it changed your behavior.

the coffee was way too concentrated, so people thought that consuming this much caffeine would ruin your insides.

it was suspicious when people gathered together for coffee, were they plotting something?

9.

1 point

During the French revolution, this powerful general rose to power, and he wished to attack Britain, but was restricted by the fact that the British had a good navy. Consequently, he went for Egypt, because they were a part of British trading.

10.

2 points

What makes the writing along the exterior walls of the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem offensive to some?

the writing is a note to Christians that "corrects" Christian beliefs because the Muslims feel as if they are in an overly Christian environment at the time

because not everyone can read what is written on the walls, and that's not fair

the writing on the walls makes references to the conflicts between the Sunni and Shia, and that causes debate about which one is superior

the scripture is said to have been written by a divine figure, and for there are some people who don't believe in these kinds of divine powers

11.

2 points

Why is Mu'Awiyah not considered one of the Four Righteous Caliphs?

he was a traitor to the beliefs of Muhammed

because the people seemed to have hated him

he didn't rule based on a relationship to Muhammed

he was an Umayyad, and it was not acceptable to have someone from outside the community as leader

12.

1 point

Seems to the Ottomans like a new version of the millet system. Basically entailed that the Europeans would come in and run their own government, trade with whomever they pleased, travel wherever, etc.

13.

2 points

Why did Uthman decide to standardize the Qur'an and burn all other versions?

because he didn't want other cultures to have access to any text that wasn't approved by him

to prevent disagreement and conflict in opinion among the people

so that he could prove his power over the people and the community

the people revolted and rebelled against him until he did so

14.

2 points

Name this law: when a descendent steps up to power, he must kill all of his ____ because they are potential rivals to him; and they must maintain the stability of the empire.

Law of Osman I

Law of Fratricide

Konya

Treaty of Capitulations

15.

1 point

What is a fatwa?

a soldier who fought for money as opposed to belief

an understanding of what is morally "right" and "wrong", what God would want

a category of action that the Ulama (jurists) considered while making a decision regarding Islamic law

a statement of whether a particular action is legal or illegal

16.

1 point

Which of the following European countries were interested in the region that the Ottoman Empire occupied? (more than one correct answer)

Sweden

Italy

Turkey

Spain

Britain

Russia

Austria/Hungary

France