Project: Trails of Islam: A Journey into the Birth and Expansion of Islam

Contextualization

Islam, one of the most followed religions in the world today, has its origins in the 7th century in the Arabian Peninsula, more precisely in Mecca. This was the place where Muhammad, the prophet, received the revelation of the Quran, the Muslim holy book. The birth and subsequent expansion of Islam mark a period of intense sociocultural and political transformation, which would go beyond Arab borders and deeply influence diverse regions of the world, from Africa, through Asia, to Europe.

The role of Islam in the construction of societies, its influence on scientific and mathematical knowledge, on the economy, on politics and on the formation of empires are some of the topics that can be explored. Understanding these points will allow us to understand how a religion and a system of beliefs influenced and continues to influence the formation of the world as we know it.

Introduction

Studying the birth and expansion of Islam is a gateway to understanding the complexity and diversity of the Arab and Muslim world, often reduced to stereotypes in the Western mentality. This project will address topics such as: the life of the prophet Muhammad; the teachings of the Quran; the expansion of Islam and the establishment of Caliphates; the Crusades; and the Muslim influence in regions such as Iberia, Africa, and Asia. Throughout the project, we will also discuss the cultural, scientific, and philosophical legacies of Islam.

In addition, the project will also address the concept of religious tolerance and cultural diversity, which was present, in a complex and not always peaceful way, during the expansion of Islam. Thus, the discipline of Sociology will be added to History, for a broader and more integrated view on the subject.

Students will be able to use books, academic articles, documentaries, podcasts, and websites from reliable institutions to deepen their knowledge on the subject. Some suggestions are:

1. Book "Islam Unveiled - A Comprehensive Guide to the Religion and its 1.6 Billion Followers", by Kenneth Garden.
2. Article "Islam in the Early Centuries", by Roy P. Mottahedeh, available on Scielo.
3. Documentary "Islam: Empire of Faith", available on Youtube.
4. Podcast "History of the World in 100 Objects", by the BBC.

Hands-on Activity: "Trails of Islam: A Journey into the Birth and Expansion of Islam"

Project Objective: To understand the birth and expansion of Islam.

Project Description: Each group of 3 to 5 students will collaboratively create a multimedia presentation, a game board (physical or digital), and a detailed report. The game board will be figurative, representing the "Trail of Islam" from the birth to the expansion of Islam. Each part of the board will represent a different phase in the history of Islam.

Materials needed:

1. Books, academic articles, documentaries, podcasts.
2. Materials for building a game board (cardboard, poster board, paint and brushes, scissors, glue, or digital resources such as graphic design software).
3. Software for graphic presentations (Google Slides, PowerPoint etc.).
4. Paper and pen for writing the report, or word processing tool.

Step by step:

1. Research: Students should begin by studying the key moments in the birth and expansion of Islam: the pre-Islamic historical context, the life of Muhammad, the revelation of the Quran, the creation of the Ummah, the expansion into the Middle East, Africa, Asia and Europe, the establishment of the Caliphates, the Crusades, and the influence of Islam in these regions.

2. Multimedia Presentation: Students will create a multimedia presentation summarizing the main events, facts, and influence of Islam over time.

3. Game Board: Students should create a game board representing the expansion of Islam. Each part of the board will be a stage in the expansion of Islam, identified with a specific color. The game can have question/answer cards that represent challenges or situations from that time.

4. Report: Students should record the entire project development process in a report. It should follow the following structure with four main topics: Introduction, Development, Conclusion, and Bibliography used.

Project Delivery:

Here is where you will make the connection between the hands-on activity and the final delivery. Each group should deliver:

1. Multimedia Presentation: On the day of the presentation, each group will explain the main points of their research through the multimedia presentation.

2. Game Board: The group will play a round of the game, explaining each stage and how it connects to the history of Islam.

3. Report: The report should contain the following sections.

   • Introduction: students should contextualize the theme, its relevance and application, as well as the objective of the project.
   • Development: detail the theory behind the central themes of the project, explain the activity in detail, indicate the methodology used, and discuss the results obtained.
   • Conclusion: reaffirm the main points, explain the lessons learned, and the conclusions about the project.
   • Bibliography: provide the sources used to work on the project.

The multimedia presentation should capture the main elements of the project. The game board shows the practical application and the students' understanding of the expansion of Islam. The report is the formal record of the group's learning, planning, execution, and reflections during the project.