Caliphs Teacher Resources

As your young historians learn about the Umayyad and early Abbasid Caliphate through reading secondary sources, have them use this simple printable to organize their notes on the topic and provide points of focus for their reading.

Consider the role that shari'ah played in the development of Muslim civilization during the Abbasid caliphate. Learners become acquainted with both the religious and scholarly basis of Islamic law to help them understand the differences...

An interesting resource focuses on the cultures of different peoples that have lived in Baghdad and their interactions. Academics view 11 sources to understand how Baghdad has been home to people of many faiths and cultures throughout...

The distinction between Shiite and Sunni Muslims is an often misunderstood concept, yet very important for its implications in global affairs and for a more comprehensive understanding of the religion of Islam.

Tenth graders examine the physical and cultural impressions made by water in the Middle East, as well as their own lives, through exercises in reading, writing, geography and art. They explore how water as an economic good drives...

Providing a thorough outline in the first few slides, this presentation takes viewers through the history and characteristics of Islam. Especially helpful are the slides that clear up common misconceptions about Islam, such as the...

Track the expansion of Islam throughout the Mediterranean and Near East. Locate and label 17 different areas that adopted the tenets of Islam. 

Explore author's purpose with an activity about persuasive arguments. After reading a short passage about Spain, learners identify three main passages that the author uses to persuade the reader.

There may be elements of this lesson that are useful for a unit on Islamic influence in Spain; however, there is little alignment between the learning objectives and the final product --a ten page report. For example, some of the...

Eighth graders examine the linguistic and cultural impact of the Arabic language and Islamic culture on the Spanish language. They analyze and label maps, listen to and differentiate between Spanish and Arabic music, and compare and...

Students examine the culture and stereotypes of Muslim women and discover a combination of items have affected the role of Muslim women as a group and individually over time. Groups research a famous Muslim woman, present their...

Students research the aspects of Dome of the Rock. They investigate the Noble Sanctuary, architectural features of the Dome of the Rock and the early Moslem Age.

Students investigate the city of Najaf and its present circumstances as part of the conflict in the Middle East. They conduct research using a variety of resources. They read an online news article while conducting brainstorming sessions...

Good article on the first four caliphs of Islam. The reign of each is summarized briefly, emphasizing their most important attributes, actions, and contributions to the Islamic community.

Read the short story "The Caliph, Cupid and the Clock" by O Henry about a very wealthy man who poses as homeless and looks for opportunities to help people.

This lengthy article examines the history of the book written by an Arab scribe entitled, "Kitab al-Tabikh" (The Book of Recipes). The article goes on to highlight various Arab recipes with pictures and descriptions.

Here are the famous "sayings of Imam Ali," the fourth Caliph of Islam.

Biographical information on Uthman Ibn Affan, which includes facts about his personal life, his rule as Caliph of Muslim, and several quotes.

John Green teaches you the history of Islam, including the revelation of the Qu'ran to Muhammad, the five pillars of Islam, how the Islamic empire got its start, the Rightly Guided Caliphs, and more. [12:54]

History of Harun al-Rashid who was the fifth ruler or caliph of the Abbasid dynasty, and whose reign is considered to be the golden age of Islam in which a great deal of cultural, scientific and religious progress was made.

This infographic maps the empires of history including the British Empire, the Mongol Empire, the Russian Empire, the Spanish Empire, the Umayyad Caliphate, the Portuguese Empire, the Achaemenid Empire (First Persian Empire), the Ottoman...

Good article on the first four caliphs of Islam. The reign of each is summarized briefly, emphasizing their most important attributes, actions, and contributions to the Islamic community.

A comprehensive learning module on Islamic Spain that includes three supporting questions accompanied by formative tasks and source materials, followed by a summative performance task. Topics covered include the religious tolerance of...

Fordham University gives a detailed description of Baghdad as the intellectual center of the Arab and later Islam culture. Gives details of important cultural and intellectual figures in Baghdad's history.