Assignment Task: The essay should be 5-6 paragraphs (2-3 pages), and can only use information from the assigned readings and video- lectures.
1. Describe the environment in which Islam emerged. What role did Dar al-Islam play in Afro-Eurasia, and why is it considered to be the first "global" empire? How did Islam spread? What are some examples of Islamic states to emerge in Sub-Saharan Africa, and the syncretism that occurred there?
2. Choose 2 out of 3 culture zones for comparison (China, Dar al-Islam, or Christendom). How were they organized during the late agrarian era? Compare their political, economic, and religious/intellectual developments. How did they spread their culture and civilization in the regions, or zones, they influenced?