The midterm will consist of two parts. In part one you will be asked to define five out of six terms, none of which should be unfamiliar to you if you have been keeping up. Each term will count for ten points, five for the definition, in one sentence, and five for its significance in a second. Write no more than two sentences on each term.
In part two you will write an essay on one of the following questions, the question to be chosen at random before the exam (don’t try to prognosticate). I’ll choose two out of which you’ll choose one. A suggestion: strive for clarity above masses of detail. Be prepared to write an essay with a beginning, a middle, an end, and a point.
- How did the Arabs avoid rapid assimilation to the cultures they conquered, the usual destiny of pastoralist conquerors?
2. Why was the hijra such a signal event in the history of early Islamic-period Arabia? How did it bring about a comprehensive reevaluation of the nature of society and politics among the still tribal Arabs?
3. What were the primary consequences of the Arab conquests on both the Arabs and the conquered peoples?
4. Discuss the historical development of the Caliphate from the death of Muhammad through the early `Abbasids. How did the Caliph become an emperor in the old style?
5. Compare the Umayyad and `Abbasid caliphates. Note: there are many possible ways of handling this question; we will be looking for coherence more than every last detail. Once you have turned this into a question or problem you will then know what to include. Also ask yourself what the larger significance or context of the question is and figure out how to assess this within the framework of a short essay.
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