The geography of the Umayyad Caliphate
I can identify where the Islamic Empire started and the regions it covered.
The geography of the Umayyad Caliphate
I can identify where the Islamic Empire started and the regions it covered.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- The Umayyad Caliphate was the second dynastic caliphate and was the largest; it ruled the last united Islamic caliphate.
- This empire covered the Middle East, parts of Asia as far as India, North Africa, and most of Spain.
- It controlled a vast network of trade routes, allowing wealth and knowledge to spread throughout Islamic civilisation.
- Muslim control of the trade routes from Southern Europe to East Asia, known as the Silk Roads, was very lucrative.
Keywords
Umayyad - Umayyad was the name of a line of caliphs based in Damascus that ruled from 661 CE to 750 CE
Dynastic - dynastic means that power and leadership is handed down from one generation of a ruling family to the next
Silk Roads - the Silk Roads refers to a network of ancient trade routes between China and Europe
Lucrative - when something is lucrative, it makes a lot of money
Common misconception
The Silk Roads were specific, defined roads.
The Silk Roads were not actual roads nor a single route; it was in fact a network of trade routes running between China and Europe.
To help you plan your year 5 history lesson on: The geography of the Umayyad Caliphate, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 5 history lesson on: The geography of the Umayyad Caliphate, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
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Explore more key stage 2 history lessons from the Early Islamic civilisation: how did Baghdad become the ‘City of Peace'? unit, dive into the full secondary history curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
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Supervision
Adult supervision recommended