Great Wall of China: Between 8th and 7th centuries B.C. (BCE), the warring states in China built defensive walls to pretect themselves from enemies from the north. During Chin (Qin) Dynasty, the separate walls were connected and consequently the wall stretched from east to west for about 5000 kilometres. This wall, considered to be one of the wonders of the world, served to keep nomadic tribes out. The Wall was further extended and strengthened by the succeeding dynasties. Now it is 6,700 kilometres in length.

Rule of ommiad or Umayyad dynasty

The Caliphs, belonging to a branch of Mohammad’s family, known as Ommiads or Umayyads ruled for about 100 years. Damascus was their capital. They developed a new style of architecture known as Saracemc architecture. The aches, the pillars, and the minarets and domes came to India later and blended with Indian ideas.


The Muslim Arabs carried Islam far and wide. But while they were fighting at distant lands, the Arabs at home were quarrelling Ali the son-in-law of Prophet Mohammad and his son Hussein were murdered. Umayyads were overthrown by Abbasids. This branch descended from Prophet Mohammad’s uncle Abbas and hence his followers were called Abbasids.

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Prophet Mohammad established Islam.

I message of brotherhood Mohammad had on qualityof aildiou who were Muslm. This message of equality and brotherhood had great appeal not only for die And who where divided into warring tribes. but also for people in other parts of the world. However. faced with persecution in his place of birth. Mohammad and his followers moved to the city of Yethrib. The flight of Mohammad from Mecca in 622 AD (CE) is called Hijrah in Arabic. In honour of his coming. the people of Yethrib renamed the city to Madinatun-Nabi-the city of the Prophet. It is now known as Medina. Mohammad died ten years after the Hijrat (AD (CE) 632). By the time of his death. united under a common faith, the Arabs became a powerful force.

6.3 (a) Arabian

Abu Bakr and Omar who succeeded Proph Mohammad as Khalif or Caliph (both rchgtom and temporal leader) laid the foundation for in Islamic Empire. In a short period of time, th. Arabs defeated both the Eastern Roman Empire and the Sassanid King of Persia. Jerusalem, the holy city of Jews and Christians, was won by the Arabs, and the whole of Spain and Persia came under the new Arab Empire.

Islam advocated simplicity and equality, These two ideas impressed people fed up with the old order of oppression and exploitation. The Arabs easily overran many regions. Egyptians had suffered much under the Roman Empire and so they opted for Arabs. Led by the General Tariq, the Arabs, after conquering Morocco and Africa, crossed into Europe and took Spain which they ruled for many hundreds of years. The Arabs, until then largely nomads from the deserts, became the rulers of a mighty empire. They were called Saracens (from sahra and nashin the dwellers of the desert).