Download WESTERLY HIGH SCHOOL PBGR COMMON TASK Subject Social

WESTERLY HIGH SCHOOL
Subject
Course
Task Name
Type
Student Name
Year of Graduation
Teacher
Date
PBGR COMMON TASK
Social Studies
Modern Middle East History
Spread of Islam Essay Anchor task
Extended
Mr Gleason
Targeted Learner Outcomes, GSEs & Standards
Learner Outcomes and/or CCSSs
Content Standards
 Students understand the manner in
PBGR 1 Argumentative Writing


which Islam spread
Student is able to recognize potential
bias in the histories provided
Student understands the arguments
and theories explaining the spread of
Islam
Directions
Teacher
Student
General Planning/Student Preparation: With the teacher, you should:
To be successful at this task, be sure your
students practice the following:
 Use general information from readings
and notes along with primary source
documents to evaluate the spread of
Islamic civilization.
 Recognition of bias inherent in primary
and secondary sources
 Analyzing and writing about historical
interpretations
Guidelines for Administering the Task:



Students will work alone on the task.
Students may write and annotate
directly on the text.
Review directions, standards and
rubrics with students

Review the standards and learner
outcomes.

Read and discuss the rubric prior to
working on the task.

Identify the most important criteria of
the rubric.

Ask questions for clarification of
the rubric if needed.
Independently, you should:
 Read each prompt and follow the
directions carefully.
 Ask your teacher clarifying
questions when anything is unclear
to you
Time: 1 class period + appropriate time
to write essay independently
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Task Prompt
At present there are 1.5 billion Muslims worldwide and they form the majority in more
than 50 countries of the world. Today Islam is the fastest growing faith in the world.
Over the years there has been debate to the reasons and methods used in Islam’s
spread from a handful of followers of the Prophet Muhammad to a great world wide
religion. Of particular interest, especially after the comments Pope Benedict XVI
made a couple years ago, is the question was the spread of Islam due more to faith
or force? Using the documents fill in the following graphic organizer and then write a
4 paragraph, 2-3 page typed essay answering the following prompt:
How did Islamic civilization spread to encompass such an extensive empire? Discuss
the practices and methods used in its spread and then decide if you believe it spread
more due to Faith or Force.
Prior to writing the essay you need to complete attached graphic organizer. In your
essay you need to quote from a minimum of 4 documents.
Paragraph 1- Introduction on the birth of Islam. Fully explain its creation with Muhammad
in the 600’s AD, including who Muhammad was and where, how, and why Islam formed.
Included in this paragraph should be a thesis statement that makes an argument on the main
cuse for the spread of this religion.
Paragraph 2- Using the documents explain how Islam grew by Faith (min 2)
Paragraph 3- Using the documents explain how Islam grew by Force (min 2)
Paragraph 4- Conclude by referring to the documents and evaluating if you believe the spread
was more due to Faith or Force
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Document 1
This quotation from the Qur’an offers specific directions to Muslims.
Ye shall do battle with them, or they shall profess Islam . . . whosoever shall obey
God and His Apostle, He shall bring him into the gardens of [Paradise]; but
whosoever shall turn back, He will punish him ... Believe and the followers of the
prophet will defend you.
Document 2
This excerpt is from History of the Middle East, by Joseph McCoy, 1984.
We have witnessed a people [Muslims] to each and every one of whom humility
is preferable to prominence, and to none of whom this world has the least
attraction. Their leader is like one of them: the low cannot be distinguished from
the high, nor the master from the slave. And when the prayer time comes, all
wash their hands and feet and humbly pray together as one regardless of race or
class. For the people of many regions where Christianity and Judaism were not
prevalent this had great appeal.
Document 3
This description of the Battle of Tours in 732, is from Fifteen Decisive Battle of the
World by Sir Edward Crecy
The Muslims struck their enemies and laid waste to the country and took captives
without number. . . everything gave way to their scimitars [swords]. . . All the
nations of the Franks trembled as that terrible army . . . attacked Tours . . . and
the fury and cruelty of the Muslims towards the inhabitants of the city were like
the fury and cruelty of raging tigers.
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Document 4
From J.J. Saunders, The Caliph Omar: Arab Imperialist , 1961
Koranic revelation commanded them to "Fight in the cause of God against those who fight you,
but do not be the aggressors. "The early Muslims thus fought their heathen enemies who
attacked them in their journeys . . . war against unbelievers was sanctioned by divine revelation
and the example of the Prophet.
But many Arabs were Jews or Christians: What was to be done with them? Muhammad
respected the older monotheistic faiths . . . he called them "People of the Book". . . they were
not forced into Islam but were allowed to retain their ancestral religion on payment of tribute.
Thus the early Muslims lived among and with people of many faiths but Islam would ultimately
become the preferred religion of the areas within the spread of Islamic faith and culture.
Document 5
In this excerpt from The Spirit of Islam, by a Muslim writer, Syed Amerr Ali (London: Chatto
and Windus, 1964) the expansion of Islam is defended and that of Christianity criticized.
Islam never interfered with the dogmas [doctrines] of any moral faith, and its followers never
persecuted . . . Islam "grasped the sword" only in self defense; Christianity grasped it in order to
stifle freedom of thought and liberty of belief. Wherever Christianity prevailed, no other
religion could be followed. . .The Muslims, on the other hand, required from others a simple
guarantee of peace, tribute in return for protection, of perfect equality—on condition of the
acceptance of Islam. . .
Document 6
Philip K. Hitti, in History of the Arabs, 1946 offers another explanation for the spread.
The passion to go to heaven in the next life may have been operative with some, but the desire
for the comforts and luxuries of the civilized regions of the Fertile Crescent was just as strong in
the case of many . . . The early Muslim campaigns seem to have started with the objective in
most cases of finding booty [riches] in foreign lands . . . The movement acquired momentum as
the followers passed from victory to victory . . . the creation of the Muslim empire followed
inevitably and the religion spread far and why as a result.
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Graphic Organizer Spread of Islam Essay:
Document
According to this document the spread of
Islam was due to… Faith or Force?
Explain by citing evidence from document
Holy Qur’an
History of the Middle East
Fifteen Decisive Battle of the
World
Document
According to this document the spread of
Islam was due to… Faith or Force?
Explain by citing evidence from document
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The Caliph Omar: Arab
Imperialist
The Spirit of Islam
History of the Arabs
Accommodations to Meet Student Needs
To the student: The directions above should be followed unless you require accommodations
for task administration. These accommodations may be described in your IEP, 504 Plan, PLP, or
in relation to your status as an English Language Learner.
If you require accommodations, tell your teacher about them. Together, you and your teacher
should describe the accommodations you require in the space below:
Presentation/format:________________________________________________
Timing/scheduling: _________________________________________________
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Mode of response: __________________________________________________
Environment/setting: ________________________________________________
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