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Year 7

Sicily

I can describe what Islamic Sicily was like in the 11th century and explain what made it different from other Islamic worlds.

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New
New
Year 7

Sicily

I can describe what Islamic Sicily was like in the 11th century and explain what made it different from other Islamic worlds.

Download all resources
Share activities with pupils

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Sicily had become a Muslim province in the 9th century.
  2. Mediterranean trade was most important for Sicily.
  3. Sicily was conquered by the Normans during the 11th century.
  4. There were profound differences between Sicily, Cordoba and Baghdad.

Common misconception

As a Muslim island, there was little diversity in 11th century Sicily.

Sicily was amongst the most diverse places in Eurasia during the 11th century with a population of Muslims, Christians and Jews.

Keywords

  • Province - a province is an area of a state which is not the capital city and may be considered less important

  • Emir - an emir is a type of leader in some Muslim countries

  • Diverse - a place is diverse if it includes many different types of people

At the beginning of learning cycle 3, students may benefit from a recall exercise based on prior learning about Baghdad and Cordoba. Share the areas for comparison with students and ask them to mind-map relevant details they can remember for both.
Teacher tip

Content guidance

  • Contains conflict or violence.

Supervision

Adult supervision suggested.

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Write the missing word. A is an Islamic state, especially one ruled by a single religious and political leader.
Correct Answer: caliphate, Caliphate
Q2.
Which of the following groups ruled over a caliphate in the 11th century?
Correct answer: Abbasids
Byzantines
Greeks
Romans
Q3.
Which statement is most accurate about Cordoba's participation in the slave trade?
Correct answer: Cordoba traded and owned enslaved people.
Cordoba traded enslaved people but did not own them.
Cordoba owned enslaved people but did not trade them.
Cordoba outlawed owning and trading enslaved people.
Q4.
Which area did not have any Muslim rulers in the 11th century?
Central Asia
Middle East
North Africa
Correct answer: South America
Western Europe
Q5.
Which statement about the books held in Cordoba's royal library is accurate?
The books were only focused on Islam.
Correct answer: The books were translated into many languages.
There were not many books held in the library.
The books were rarely used by scholars.
Q6.
Identify the accurate difference between Cordoba and Baghdad.
Cordoba was a Muslim city, whereas Baghdad was Christian.
Cordoba was not involved in a lot of trade, but Baghdad was.
Correct answer: Cordoba was influenced strongly by Mediterranean cultures, unlike Baghdad.
Cordoba attracted scholars from many areas, whereas few studied in Baghdad.

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Match-up each keyword with its correct defintion.
Correct Answer:caliph,a political and religious leader of Muslim communities

a political and religious leader of Muslim communities

Correct Answer:emir,a type of leader in some Muslim countries

a type of leader in some Muslim countries

Correct Answer:province,area of a state which is not the capital city

area of a state which is not the capital city

Q2.
Write the missing word. Sicily is located in the Sea.
Correct Answer: Mediterranean, mediterranean
Q3.
Which statement about the markets in 11th century Sicily is most accurate?
Sicily's markets were the most expensive in the Mediterranean.
Sicily's markets were the least expensive in the Mediterranean.
Correct answer: Sicily's markets had a range of goods from across the Mediterranean.
Sicily's markets only sold goods produced in Sicily.
Q4.
Which group had conquered Sicily by 1091?
Abbasids
Correct answer: Normans
Seljuk Turks
Vikings
Q5.
Identify the accurate similarity between 11th century Baghdad and Sicily.
They were home to the world's largest universities.
They were led by emirs who lived there.
Correct answer: They suffered invasions from outside groups.
Q6.
Identify the accurate difference between 11th century Baghdad and Sicily.
Correct answer: both were the capital of a caliphate
both had a large population of Jews and Christians as well as Muslims
both traded with North Africa and Europe

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