Year 5 - History
Europe, the Mediterranean and Asia in the early 9th century world
Early Islamic civilisation: what connected Baghdad to the wider world?
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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 analyse the connections that 9th-century Islamic civilisation had to the wider world. They learn about its connections to the East and West and the importance of Baghdad as a centre of learning and knowledge.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to describe important connections, places and empires in the early 9th century.
Key Notes
- The major empires of Europe and Asia were: the Tang, the Abbasids, the Carolingians, the Byzantines, the Umayyads.
- In England, the Anglo Saxons were beginning to become one single kingdom.
- In Spain, the Abbasid's Muslim enemies the Umayyads were seeking to expand north into Charlemagne's Carolingian Empire.
- Charlemagne and Al-Rashid, caliph of the Abbasids and ruler of Baghdad, both had growing tension with the Byzantines.
- In 801CE, Al-Rashid sent gifts to Charlemagne including an elephant and an automatic water clock.
Vocabulary To Learn
- Tang: the Tang Dynasty was a powerful empire in ancient China that lasted from 618 to 907 CE
- Carolingian: Carolingian refers to a powerful family and empire in Europe during the early Middle Ages
- Charlemagne: the Carolingian Empire was ruled by kings from the Carolingian family; the most famous of whom was Charlemagne
- Harun Al-Rashid: Harun al-Rashid was a ruler who lived during the Islamic Golden Age in the Abbasid Caliphate. He was born in 763 CE and ruled as the Abbasid Caliph from 786 until his death in 809 CE.
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Europe, the Mediterranean, and Asia in the early 9th century were largely isolated, with minimal contact and influence between these regions.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Summarise this historical learning in two key ideas.
The major empires of Europe and Asia were: the Tang, the Abbasids, the Carolingians, the Byzantines, the Umayyads. In England, the Anglo Saxons were beginning to become one single kingdom.
2. Define this history term and explain why it matters in this topic. 'Tang'
the Tang Dynasty was a powerful empire in ancient China that lasted from 618 to 907 CE.
3. Correct this common history misconception using evidence language.
Mistake: Europe, the Mediterranean, and Asia in the early 9th century were largely isolated, with minimal contact and influence between these regions. Correction: There was much interaction between the regions during this period with extensive trade networks, such as the Silk Road, connected them and political leaders across these regions often maintained diplomatic relations.
More Lessons In This Unit
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