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EARN PROFIT CARD
1
During the Middle Ages, Islamic coins were made of gold, silver
and copper. The gold used to make coins was mined in Africa, silver
came from Asia and copper was mined in a variety of different
places. Striking coin was a privilege of the government. Just
as today, government mints produced money. Major mints were located
in Cairo, Baghdad and Damascus.
Unlike modern western coins, medieval Islamic coins did not have
heads and tails. Islam discourages making of images of
people, so coins were inscribed with written information which
was often done in attractive calligraphy. Most coins bore the
name and title of the ruler who issued the coin, the name of the
city where the coin was minted and the date of issue. Coins were
also inscribed with a religious message, usually the opening passage
of the Quran, the Islamic holy book.
Gold coins were called dinars. The silver coins were called dirhams.
There were 20 dirhams in a dinar. Copper coins called fals had
a variable value at different times and in different places.
Earn one dinar for every modern country you can find that still
uses the dinar or dirham as a unit of currency.
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EARN
PROFIT CARD 2
The terrible epidemic of plague known as the Black Death raged through
the Middle East, as well as Europe and China, during the medieval
period. A major attack of the plague occurred in the mid-fourteenth
century. Within a hundred years, the disease had nearly halved the
population of Cairo and Damascus two of the largest cities in the
Middle East. At one time, 2,000 people a day week were dying in
Damascus alone, leaving the city short of coffins, shrouds, and
gravediggers to bury the diseased dead.
Medical knowledge of the period was incapable of dealing with the
disease.
Preventative measures that were used included sitting very still,
living in fresh air and eating pickled onions and fruit. Sick people
were treated with applications of egg yolk, amulets and flowers.
The people of Damascus are dying of plague. They have appealed to
you to explain to them what the plague is and how to treat it. Use
an encyclopedia or another source to research the bubonic and pneumonic
plague. Then write a letter to the Damascenes giving them information
that will help them to control this horrible disease. You can earn
five dinars for your medical help. |
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