Islamic History
Results
#1. The second siege of Vienna took place in:
The failed siege of 1683 is regarded as a turning point. Ottoman power in Europe declined thereafter.
#2. The city of Baghdad was founded by:
Al-Mansur founded Baghdad in 762 CE as the new capital. It became the political and intellectual centre of the Muslim world.
#3. A significant grievance under Umayyad rule concerned the treatment of:
The mawali faced fiscal and social disadvantages despite accepting Islam. This grievance contributed to opposition to Umayyad rule.
#4. The North African dynasties that intervened in Spain against Christian advance included the:
The Almoravids and Almohads crossed from North Africa to support Muslim Spain. Their intervention delayed but did not prevent the reconquest.
#5. The last Umayyad caliph of Damascus was:
Marwan II was defeated at the Zab and killed shortly afterwards. The dynasty survived in Spain under a surviving prince.
#6. The palace complex built near Cordoba by Abd ar-Rahman III was:
Madinat az-Zahra was a palatial city built outside Cordoba. It was destroyed during civil conflict in the eleventh century.
#7. The principal structural change introduced by the Umayyads was:
Muawiyah nominated his son Yazid, establishing dynastic succession. This distinguished the Umayyad period from the Rashidun caliphate.
#8. The Umayyad caliph renowned for piety and administrative reform was:
Umar bin Abdul Aziz is often described as the fifth rightly guided caliph. He is credited with fiscal reform and ordering the collection of hadith.
#9. The Abbasid period is described as a golden age chiefly because of achievements in:
Abbasid Baghdad became a centre of scholarship and scientific advance. Territorial expansion largely ceased in this period.
#10. The Alhambra palace is located in:
The Alhambra was built by the Nasrid rulers of Granada. It is regarded as a masterpiece of Islamic architecture.
#11. Ibn Battuta is renowned as a:
Ibn Battuta travelled across Africa, Asia and Europe over three decades. His account is a major historical source.
#12. The institution of learning and translation established in Baghdad was known as:
Bait-ul-Hikmah, the House of Wisdom, was a centre of translation and research. It flourished particularly under al-Mamun.
#13. Sindh was conquered in 711 CE by:
Muhammad bin Qasim led the campaign into Sindh during Walid’s reign. Debal and Multan were among the cities taken.
#14. Muslim Spain is historically significant for Europe chiefly because it:
Translations at Toledo and elsewhere transmitted philosophy, medicine and mathematics to Europe. The transmission contributed to later European intellectual development.
#15. The battle at which Salahuddin decisively defeated the Crusaders was:
The Battle of Hattin in 1187 destroyed the Crusader field army. Jerusalem surrendered shortly afterwards.
#16. Ibn Khaldun’s celebrated introduction to his historical work is titled:
The Muqaddimah is the introductory volume to Ibn Khaldun’s universal history. It sets out his theory of social cohesion and dynastic cycles.
#17. Umar bin Abdul Aziz is credited with formally ordering the:
He instructed scholars to gather and record hadith. This marked the beginning of official hadith compilation.
#18. The last Muslim kingdom in Spain was:
The Nasrid kingdom of Granada was the final Muslim state in Iberia. It fell in 1492 CE.
#19. Abbasid political authority declined as regional dynasties emerged, including the:
The Buyids and later the Seljuks exercised effective power while the caliph retained nominal authority. Abbasid rule became largely symbolic.
#20. Muslim rule in Sindh is significant for Pakistan’s history because it is often described as:
Sindh is called Bab-ul-Islam as the first region of the subcontinent under Muslim rule. It established a lasting Muslim presence.
#21. The Abbasid caliph who greatly expanded Bait-ul-Hikmah was:
Al-Mamun greatly expanded the House of Wisdom and the translation movement. Greek, Persian and Indian works were rendered into Arabic.
#22. Ibn Sina, known in Europe as Avicenna, is renowned particularly for his work in:
Ibn Sina’s Canon of Medicine was used in European universities for centuries. He also wrote extensively on philosophy.
#23. The Ottoman reform movement of the nineteenth century was known as the:
The Tanzimat reforms modernised Ottoman administration, law and education. They ran from 1839 to 1876.
#24. The ruler of Sindh defeated by Muhammad bin Qasim was:
Raja Dahir was defeated near Rawar in 712 CE. The victory brought Sindh under Muslim rule.
#25. Constantinople was conquered by the Ottomans in:
Mehmed II captured Constantinople in 1453. The event is often taken to mark the end of the medieval period in Europe.
#26. The Persian family that dominated Abbasid administration under Harun ar-Rashid was the:
The Barmakid family held the wazirate and great influence. Harun ar-Rashid eventually removed them from power.
#27. The theologian who developed a middle position between Mutazilite rationalism and strict traditionalism was:
Al-Ashari founded the Ashari school of theology. Al-Maturidi developed a parallel approach in Central Asia.
#28. The Umayyad caliphate was founded in:
The Umayyad caliphate began in 41 AH after Hasan bin Ali’s abdication. Muawiyah bin Abi Sufyan became the first Umayyad caliph.
#29. Arabic was made the official language of administration under:
Abd al-Malik replaced Greek and Persian with Arabic in the administration. The change unified the bureaucracy across the empire.
#30. The Abbasid inquisition concerning the createdness of the Quran is known as the:
The Mihna was an inquisition imposed under al-Mamun and his successors. Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal resisted it.
#31. Ibn Rushd, known in Europe as Averroes, was primarily a:
Ibn Rushd was a philosopher, physician and Maliki jurist of Cordoba. His commentaries on Aristotle influenced European thought.
#32. The Umayyad governor known for suppressing opposition in Iraq was:
Hajjaj bin Yusuf governed Iraq with severity under Abd al-Malik and Walid. He was also a patron of Arabic script reform.
#33. The Mihna was ended by the caliph:
Al-Mutawakkil abandoned the Mihna and reversed the doctrinal policy. Traditionalist scholarship was thereafter favoured.
#34. Al-Ghazali’s major work on the revival of religious practice is titled:
Ihya Ulum ad-Din addresses worship, ethics and spiritual refinement. Al-Ghazali is titled Hujjat-ul-Islam.
#35. The Ottoman sultan under whom the empire reached its greatest extent and power was:
Suleiman I presided over the empire’s height in the sixteenth century. He is known in Turkish as Kanuni, the Lawgiver.
#36. The capital of Muslim Spain during its height was:
Cordoba was the capital and among the largest cities in Europe. It was renowned for learning and libraries.
#37. The chief minister in Abbasid administration was titled:
The wazir headed the administration under the caliph. The office grew powerful under the Abbasids.
#38. The concept of asabiyyah, or group solidarity, was developed by:
Asabiyyah denotes group cohesion in Ibn Khaldun’s theory of state formation. He argued its decline precipitates dynastic collapse.
#39. The Abbasid caliphate was established in:
The Abbasid caliphate was established in 132 AH, corresponding to 750 CE. It lasted until the Mongol sack of Baghdad.
#40. The Ottoman land tenure system granting revenue assignments for military service was the:
The timar granted revenue from land in exchange for military service. It underpinned the Ottoman cavalry.
#41. The Great Mosque of Cordoba is architecturally renowned for its:
The mosque is celebrated for its double-tiered horseshoe arches. It was converted to a cathedral after the reconquest.
#42. The Ottoman Empire formally ended following:
The empire collapsed after defeat in the First World War. The Turkish republic was established in 1923.
#43. The Suleymaniye and Selimiye mosques are associated with the celebrated Ottoman architect:
Mimar Sinan designed many of the finest Ottoman mosques. The Selimiye at Edirne is regarded as his masterpiece.
#44. Mehmed II is known by the title:
Mehmed II is titled Fatih, the Conqueror, for taking Constantinople. Suleiman was known as the Magnificent.
#45. The ruler who proclaimed the Umayyad caliphate of Cordoba was:
Abd ar-Rahman III assumed the title of caliph in 929 CE. The emirate thereby became a caliphate.
#46. The Mongol advance into Syria was halted at the Battle of:
The Mamluks defeated the Mongols at Ain Jalut in 1260. The battle checked Mongol expansion westward.
#47. The Ottoman sultan who assumed the title of caliph after conquering Egypt was:
Selim I conquered Egypt in 1517 and the Ottomans thereafter claimed the caliphate. The Hijaz also came under Ottoman protection.
#48. Muhammad bin Qasim’s campaign in Sindh was launched during the caliphate of:
The Sindh campaign took place under Walid. Hajjaj bin Yusuf organised the expedition as governor of the east.
#49. The Seljuk Turks are historically significant for:
The Seljuks assumed effective authority in the eleventh century while recognising the Abbasid caliph. They faced the Byzantines and later the Crusaders.
#50. Abd ar-Rahman I is known by the epithet:
Abd ar-Rahman I earned this epithet for his escape and establishment of rule in Spain. He founded a dynasty lasting nearly three centuries.
#51. Central Asian territories including Bukhara and Samarkand were brought under Muslim control by:
Qutaybah bin Muslim campaigned in Transoxiana during Walid’s reign. Bukhara and Samarkand became centres of Islamic learning.
#52. The word algorithm derives from the name of:
The term algorithm is derived from the Latinised form of al-Khwarizmi. His works transmitted Indian numerals to the West.
#53. Constantinople was renamed:
The city became known as Istanbul and served as the Ottoman capital. It had earlier been the Byzantine capital.
#54. The Ottoman defeat at the naval Battle of Lepanto occurred in:
The Ottomans were defeated at Lepanto in 1571 by a European alliance. The fleet was nevertheless rebuilt within a short period.
#55. Suleiman the Magnificent is known in Turkish tradition as:
Suleiman is called Kanuni for his codification of Ottoman law. His reign is regarded as the empire’s golden age.
#56. Baghdad was founded in:
Baghdad was established in 762 CE on the Tigris. It was designed as a round city.
#57. The Umayyad prince who escaped to Spain and founded a new state there was:
Abd ar-Rahman I escaped the Abbasid pursuit and established Umayyad rule in Spain. He founded the emirate of Cordoba in 756 CE.
#58. The Ottoman Empire at its height controlled territories in:
At its height the empire spanned three continents. It controlled the eastern Mediterranean and the Balkans.
#59. The founder of the Umayyad caliphate was:
Muawiyah founded the dynasty in 41 AH. He had earlier served as governor of Syria.
#60. The Abbasid caliph associated with the height of the dynasty’s prosperity was:
Harun ar-Rashid’s reign is regarded as the peak of Abbasid prosperity. His court became legendary in literature.
#61. The Umayyad emirate in Spain was founded by:
Abd ar-Rahman I escaped the Abbasid massacre and established Umayyad rule at Cordoba. He is known as the Falcon of Quraysh.
#62. The Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem was built during the reign of:
The Dome of the Rock was completed under Abd al-Malik. It is among the earliest surviving Islamic monuments.
#63. The Nizamiyyah colleges were established under the patronage of:
Nizam al-Mulk, the Seljuk vizier, founded the Nizamiyyah colleges. Al-Ghazali taught at the Nizamiyyah of Baghdad.
#64. The medical encyclopaedia Al-Qanun fi at-Tibb was written by:
Al-Qanun fi at-Tibb, the Canon of Medicine, was Ibn Sina’s major medical work. It remained a standard reference for centuries.
#65. The elite Ottoman infantry corps was known as the:
The Janissaries formed the sultan’s elite standing infantry. The corps was abolished in the nineteenth century.
#66. Baghdad was sacked and the Abbasid caliphate ended in 1258 CE by the:
The Mongols under Hulagu Khan sacked Baghdad in 1258. The event ended Abbasid rule in Iraq.
#67. The Ottoman caliphate was formally abolished in:
The caliphate was abolished by the Turkish Grand National Assembly in March 1924. The event prompted the Khilafat Movement’s collapse in India.
#68. The Umayyad Mosque of Damascus was constructed under:
The Great Mosque of Damascus was built during Walid’s reign. It is a landmark of early Islamic architecture.
#69. Al-Biruni is renowned for his scholarly work on:
Al-Biruni wrote a celebrated study of India alongside works in astronomy and mathematics. He accompanied Mahmud of Ghazni’s expeditions.
#70. The Ottoman Empire was often described in nineteenth-century European diplomacy as:
European powers described the declining empire as the sick man of Europe. Its territorial losses accelerated in this period.
#71. The introduction of papermaking to the Muslim world is traditionally associated with:
Papermaking is traditionally said to have reached the Muslim world following Talas. Paper mills were subsequently established in Baghdad and elsewhere.
#72. The month in which the events of Karbala took place was:
The events occurred in Muharram, on the tenth day known as Ashura. The month is observed with commemoration.
#73. Al-Razi, known in Europe as Rhazes, is noted for his contributions to:
Al-Razi made significant contributions in medicine and chemistry. He wrote a noted treatise distinguishing smallpox from measles.
#74. Granada fell to the Christian kingdoms in:
Granada surrendered in 1492, ending Muslim rule in Spain. The same year saw Columbus’s first voyage.
#75. Ibn Khaldun is regarded as a founder of:
Ibn Khaldun’s Muqaddimah pioneered the systematic study of society and historical change. He served in various North African courts.
#76. The period of fragmentation of Muslim Spain into small kingdoms is known as the:
The taifa kingdoms emerged after the collapse of the Cordoban caliphate. Their disunity facilitated Christian advances.
#77. The Ottoman sultan who conquered Constantinople was:
Mehmed II, known as the Conqueror, took Constantinople at the age of twenty-one. The city became the Ottoman capital.
#78. The capital of the Umayyad caliphate was:
Damascus served as the Umayyad capital. The shift from Madinah marked a change in the character of the state.
#79. The Ottomans conquered Egypt and ended Mamluk rule in:
Selim I defeated the Mamluks in 1517. Egypt and Syria came under Ottoman rule.
#80. The Mamluks who defeated the Mongols ruled principally from:
The Mamluk sultanate was based in Egypt and Syria. It also gave refuge to a nominal Abbasid caliphate in Cairo.
#81. The translation movement under the Abbasids rendered into Arabic works from:
Scholars translated philosophical, medical and scientific works from several traditions. This transmission later influenced Europe.
#82. The Ottoman system under which non-Muslim communities administered their own religious and personal law was the:
The millet system granted religious communities autonomy in personal law. It governed Ottoman relations with non-Muslim subjects.
#83. Abdullah bin Zubair established a rival caliphate based at:
Abdullah bin Zubair was acknowledged as caliph in the Hijaz. His movement was suppressed after a prolonged conflict.
#84. The tragedy of Karbala occurred in:
The events at Karbala took place in 61 AH. Husayn bin Ali and his companions were killed there.
#85. Al-Khwarizmi is renowned as a pioneer of:
Al-Khwarizmi’s work founded algebra as a discipline. The word algorithm derives from his name.
#86. The Ottoman caliphate was abolished under the leadership of:
Mustafa Kemal led the movement that abolished the sultanate and then the caliphate. Turkey became a republic in 1923.
#87. The Umayyad caliphate in Damascus fell in:
The Umayyad caliphate fell in 132 AH, corresponding to 750 CE. The Abbasids replaced them.
#88. The battle at which the Umayyads were decisively defeated by the Abbasids was:
The Battle of the Zab in 750 CE ended Umayyad rule in the east. Marwan II was the last Umayyad caliph in Damascus.
#89. The Umayyad caliph who introduced distinctly Islamic coinage was:
Abd al-Malik introduced Islamic coinage replacing Byzantine and Sasanian designs. He also made Arabic the language of administration.
#90. Husayn bin Ali was martyred at Karbala during the reign of:
The events occurred during the reign of Yazid bin Muawiyah. The episode remains one of the most consequential in Islamic history.
#91. Karbala is located in present-day:
Karbala lies in modern Iraq. It is a major centre of pilgrimage.
#92. The Ottoman Empire was founded around 1299 CE by:
Osman I founded the dynasty that bears his name. The empire endured for over six centuries.
#93. Al-Ghazali is honoured with the title:
Al-Ghazali is known as Hujjat-ul-Islam, the proof of Islam. He was a Shafi jurist, theologian and spiritual writer.
#94. Jerusalem was recovered from the Crusaders in 1187 CE by:
Salahuddin recovered Jerusalem after the Battle of Hattin in 1187. He is remembered for his conduct toward the defeated.
#95. The Battle of Talas in 751 CE was fought between Muslim forces and:
The Battle of Talas halted Chinese expansion into Central Asia. It is traditionally linked to the transmission of papermaking to the Muslim world.
#96. The theological school associated with the doctrine of the created Quran was the:
The Mutazilah advocated the doctrine of the created Quran. Their position was adopted by al-Mamun during the Mihna.
#97. The first Abbasid caliph was:
Abu al-Abbas as-Saffah was the first Abbasid caliph. Al-Mansur, his successor, consolidated the dynasty.
#98. Muslim Spain was known in Arabic as:
Al-Andalus was the Arabic name for the Iberian territories under Muslim rule. Muslim presence lasted nearly eight centuries.
#99. The Ottoman advance into central Europe was halted at the second siege of:
The second siege of Vienna in 1683 ended in Ottoman defeat. It marked the beginning of the empire’s territorial retreat.
#100. Ibn Rushd and Ibn Hazm were both scholars associated with:
Both scholars were products of Muslim Spain. Ibn Rushd was based at Cordoba and Ibn Hazm also in Andalusia.