Lesson 4.4

In Islamic culture, the most important use of calligraphy was to

• build mosques and palaces.

• create sacred images of Muhammad.

• calculate the positions of the stars.

• write verses of the Quran.

Why did Arabic numerals replace Roman numerals?

• They were more accurate.

• They were based on the Quran.

• They made it easier to perform calculations.

• They were easier to read.

Sufi writers such as Rumi were mainly interested in

• passing down traditional folktales.

• expressing religious ideas.

• recording the history of dynasties.

• praising tribal and military leaders.

Which of the following were among the most valuable trade good produced in the Arab world?

• cotton textiles

• silks

• furs

• spices

How did Muslim scholars build upon Greco-Roman culture?

• They adopted Latin as the language of education.

• They translated and studied ancient texts.

• They copied Roman architectural styles.

• They modeled their universities after medieval schools.

Match the following vocabulary words to their definition

• pattern of curved shapes and lines

• arabesque

• woven fabric, such as a carpet

• textile

• art of decorative writing

• calligraphy

• kind of mathematics with letters

• algebra

• Modern symbols used for numbers

• Arabic numerals