Fill in all the gaps, then press "Check" to check your answers. Use the "Hint" button to get a free letter if an answer is giving you trouble. You can also click on the "[?]" button to get a clue. Note that you will lose points if you ask for hints or clues!

The Muslim world fragmented from the 9th century when the Fatimid dynasty was established in Cairo, challenging the rule of the Abbasid caliphate in Baghdad. These shi'ite Muslims were led by the spiritual successors of Ali, son-in-law of the Prophet. However, by the late 11th century the leadership of the Fatimid caliphate in Cairo was not accepted by schismatic groups such as the Druze and the Nizari Isma'ilis, or Assassins. After their capture of Baghdad in 1055 the Seljuk sultans pretended to rule as the servants of the Abbasid caliph and as the defenders of the Sunni Islamic faith. The figurehead Abbasid caliph was the formal political and religious head of Sunni Muslims.

Under Alp Arslan the Seljuk Empire reached its peak in 1071 with victory at Manzikert over Byzantium and his son, Malik-Shah's capture of Jerusalem. However, the 1090's saw the continuation of the long-drawn-out struggle for control of Syria between the Fatimid caliphs of Egypt and the Seljuk sultans in the east. Following the death of Malik-Shah in 1092 the Seljuk sultanate disintegrated as his kinsmen fought over his empire. Turkish warlords pursued independent local policies. The Fatimids took advantage of Seljuk disarray to make gains in Palestine, re-capturing Jerusalem in 1098.

Divided by doctrines and rituals, religious schisms and political ambition the Muslim leaders of the near east included Atabaks, semi-independent Turkish military governors such as Kerbogha of Mosul, Ridwan of Aleppo nephew of Malik-Shah, and Duqaq of Damascus. Also, local Arab dynasties such as the Emir of Shaizar and schismatics such as the Assassins based at Qadmus.