Content Area: Social Studies

 

Index: 6.3C Grade 8 CPI 2

 

Standard: 6.3 - World History

 

Strand: C -  Expanding Zones of Exchange and Interaction to 1400 CE

 

Cumulative Progress Indicator: 2 -  The student will discuss the spread of Islam in Southwest Asia, the Mediterranean region, and Northern Africa and the influence of Islamic ideas and practices on other cultures and social behavior,  including:

·        The origin and development of Islamic law

·        The significance of the Quran and the Five Pillars of Islam

·        The diverse religious, cultural, and geographic factors that influenced the ability of  the Muslim government to rule

·        The split into Sunni and Shi’ite factions

·        The importance of Muslim civilization in mediating long-distance commercial, cultural, intellectual, and food crop exchange across Eurasia and parts of Africa

 

Grade: 8

 

Sample Activities:

 

·    Popular Images of Islam. Because many popular images of Arabic culture (e.g., Disney’s Aladdin) are based on the Abbasidian era, younger children may enjoy re-creating the golden age of Baghdad in their classrooms through dress, role-playing, and other imaginative games.

 

·    Early Trade Routes. Older students trace the trade routes that ran through Baghdad during the 8th, 9th, and 10th centuries. Why was Baghdad the ideal center of trade and commerce? How did trade promote cultural exchanges throughout the Islamic world?

 

·    Contributions of Islamic Scholars. Students research the contributions of Abbasid scholars, such as Avicenna, Abu Hanifa, Hunayn, and al Biruni, to the fields of science, mathematics, and medicine.

 

·    A Matter of Time. Another way in which cultures may differ is in the reckoning of time. The Aztec calendar is justly famous as the subject of much pre- Columbian art. The Chinese zodiac, or astrology system, is something we have seen in certain restaurants. The Jewish calendar is marked from the         beginning of written language. There is no AD or BC in this calendar because the birth of Christ is not recognized as a historical marker. The Jewish calendar works with the general understanding of western history as follows: Egyptian and Babylonian civilizations date from circa 3000 BC. There were other ancient civilizations like the Hittites and Phoenicians, who also had written language. The approximate date of these civilizations is 3700 BC. If one adds 3700 BC to the present year of 1999 AD, there are just about 5700 years. We then have to assume an additional 59 years in the ancient period that is uncertain. Thus, the current year is 5759. Using this system, students calculate the year of their birth and the years of other events.