Islamic History and Civilization
Periodization
Know the sequence of eras: the Prophetic period, the Rashidun Caliphate (Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman, Ali), the Umayyad dynasty (Damascus), the Abbasid dynasty (Baghdad), and the later regional states. The trap is confusing the capital of each dynasty or the order of the first four caliphs.
Key events
Know the Hijrah (622 CE, the starting point of the Islamic calendar), the Battle of Badr (2 AH), Uhud (3 AH), and the Conquest of Makkah (8 AH). Know the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah and its significance.
Civilization and institutions
Know the contributions of the House of Wisdom (Bayt al-Hikmah), the translation movement, and scholars such as al-Khwarizmi (algebra), Ibn Sina (medicine), and al-Biruni. Know the role of waqf (endowment) in funding education and hospitals.
Worked rule of thumb
For chronology questions, anchor on the Hijrah (622 CE) and count forward. Badr is 2 years after the Hijrah, Uhud is 3, and the Conquest of Makkah is 8. This anchor resolves most date questions without memorizing every event separately.