Year 5 - History
The early success of Islam
Early Islamic civilisation: how did Baghdad become the 'City of Peace'?
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This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
In this unit, pupils develop broad knowledge of Islam's rise. They study Muhammad's role and the early caliphates before focusing on the creation of Baghdad as a new capital for the Islamic Umayyad Caliphate. The unit focuses on the second-order concept of causation.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to describe the reasons for the early success of Islam in the mid 7th Century CE.
Key Notes
- From Medina, Muhammad tried to unite the southern Arabian tribes under the banner of Islam.
- Following successful attacks against his enemies from Mecca, a ten year truce was called and the forces of Islam grew.
- Mecca was established as the religious centre of Islam, the Ka'ba becoming a focus for pilgrimage and prayer.
- Muhammad sent Muslim armies to exploit the Byzantine and Persian Empires, weakened by fighting one another.
Vocabulary To Learn
- Medina: Medina is a city in Saudi Arabia and the the second holiest city to Muslims after Mecca
- Arabian: Arabic-speaking people, who lived on the Arabian peninsula, were known as Arabian
- truce: a truce is an agreement between enemies to stop fighting for a certain time
- pilgrimage: a pilgrimage is a journey to a holy place
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- The people living on the Arabian peninsula have always followed Islam.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Summarise this historical learning in two key ideas.
From Medina, Muhammad tried to unite the southern Arabian tribes under the banner of Islam. Following successful attacks against his enemies from Mecca, a ten year truce was called and the forces of Islam grew.
2. Define this history term and explain why it matters in this topic. 'Medina'
Medina is a city in Saudi Arabia and the the second holiest city to Muslims after Mecca.
3. Correct this common history misconception using evidence language.
Mistake: The people living on the Arabian peninsula have always followed Islam. Correction: Pre-Islamic Arabia followed a mix of Judaism, Christianity and polytheism (the belief in many gods).
More Lessons In This Unit
Browse all guides in the Year 5 History guide library.