Write a five paragraph essay in response to your choice of either of the following prompts.

1. What is Islam, and how did it develop historically in the medieval world? Assess the various influences that shaped the Islamic faith from the time of the first community of believers in Mecca and Medina, through the long dialogue with the societies of the Near East over the following centuries. In particular, how did the dialogue with Christians and Jews, and the popular practice of religion by communities in the Near East, contribute to defining Islam as a religious tradition? Cite specific examples of these diverse influences on the development of Islam in primary sources we have analyzed in this class.

2. Following the death of the prophet Muhammad, the Islamic community faced a major challenge in determining who should succeed him, what their qualifications should be, and what responsibilities they would hold. What were the outcomes of these debates over spiritual and political authority after the prophet's death, and how did the nature of spiritual and political authority change over time? What major controversies over these questions of authority appear at this point in Islamic history and what are their legacies today? Cite specific examples to support your argument from the primary sources we have analyzed in class.