Write a detailed account about the Battle of Yarmuk fought in the caliphate of 'Umar.

Mark scheme

Marking points from the official mark scheme (May/June 2020). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

1. [10] (a) A detailed account of the Battle of Yarmuk needs to be given.
2. [10] (a) It was fought in 636 between the Byzantines and the Muslims.
3. [10] (a) The trigger for this battle was the Fall of Damascus, which alerted Heraclius to the Muslim threat from the east and the Byzantines organised a massive army at the Golan Heights.
4. [10] (a) The Muslims under the command of Khalid ibn Waleed, Abu Ubaydah ibn al Jarra, Yazid ibn Abu Sufyan and Amr ibn al A'as also assembled in the Golan region. Khalid gave the Byzantines the option to accept Islam or pay jizya and when the two options were turned down the war began.
5. [10] (a) The numbers of the forces vary in records, some say Muslims were between 20 000 to 24 000 and the Byzantines were in even greater numbers. Both sides were inspired by religious zeal.
6. [10] (a) The main Battle of Yarmuk was preceded by a series of conflicts for about a month, and finally culminated in a major battle towards the end of August.
7. [10] (a) The Muslims lured the Byzantines into the rough terrain by pretending to retreat and ambushed them. The Byzantine cavalry got separated from the infantry enabling the Muslims to inflict severe damage on them.
8. [10] (a) A dust storm also unsettled the Byzantines, the main army driven west was trapped in rugged valleys. When Khalid stormed the Byzantine camp at Yaqusa all hope was lost, and the Byzantines were further demoralised by rumours that Christian Arabs had defected to the Muslim side. The defeat at Yarmuk was catastrophic for the Byzantines, whilst the victory enabled the Muslims to subdue other cities of Syria.
9. [4] (b) Evaluative answer needed here focusing on the significance of the conquest of Jerusalem in 637. It could be said that: Jerusalem was one city whose conquest was more symbolic than of military importance. Jerusalem was the city to which the Prophet (pbuh) travelled from Makka during Mairaj.
10. [4] (b) Jerusalem is where the Prophet (pbuh) led the prophets of the past in prayer before ascending to the heavens.
11. [4] (b) Whilst acknowledging the rights of Christians and Jews in Jerusalem, 'Umar was keen to send the message that the city also belonged to the Muslims.
12. [4] (b) It marked the decline of the Byzantine dominance at the time.
13. [4] (b) This question does not ask for accounts of how he travelled to Jerusalem or the details of the surrender of Jerusalem.