ISLAM CIVILIZATION'S GOLDEN AGE CIRCA 700 – 1300

EQ: What achievements did Muslims make in economics, art, literature and science? OBJ: I will be able to describe the achievements of the Islamic Golden Age.

MUSLIMS BUILD A TRADE NETWORK Merchants were honored in Muslim culture because Muhammad was a merchant Between 750 and 1350, merchants built a vast trading network across Muslim territories and further –Muslim, Jewish, and Christian traders traveled the Silk Road toward China and were essential to trade between East Asia and Europe Trade spread products, technology, knowledge, and culture Extensive trade and money economy led Muslims to pioneer new business practices

VALUE OF MANUFACTURED GOODS Guilds were formed to organize the manufacturing of goods –The leaders of guilds regulated prices, weights and measurements, methods of production, and quality of the product Muslim artisans produced a variety of goods –Steel swords from Damascus –Leather goods from Cordoba –Cotton textiles from Egypt –Carpets from Persia

TRADE ROUTES MAP This map shows the size of the Islamic Empire as well as the trading routes.

GROWTH IN AGRICULTURE Agriculture thrived in the countryside outside of the cities Umayyad and Abbasid dynasties worked to preserve and extend agricultural land The desert lands supported nomads who lived by herding Pastoral groups also provided pack animals and guides for caravan trade

SOCIAL STRUCTURE AND SLAVERY During the 800s and 900s, Muslims enjoyed a degree of social mobility Slavery was a common part of their society –Islamic law encouraged the freeing of slaves as an act of charity –Slaves were usually non-Muslims from conquered lands Most slaves worked as household servants, while some were skilled artisans The Turks were nomadic people who were slave-soldiers

SOCIAL MOBILITY A cartoon critiquing social mobility in our modern day country

POETRY AND TALES OF ADVENTURE Arabic culture has a rich poetry/storytelling tradition, long before Muhammad was born The most common themes in their stories/poetry was chivalry and the appeal of nomadic life –Other themes included religious and worldly themes Some notable poets include: Rabiah al-Adawiyya (Sufi mystic), Firdawsi (wrote Shah Namah or Book of Kings, a history of Persia), Omar Khayyam (scholar and astronomer that wrote the Rubaiyat)

RECAP! The Silk Road allowed trade between which two continents? What country did it lead to? What is a guild? What is social mobility? What does it say about Muslim society in the 800s and 900s? What are some common themes in Muslim stories/poems? Which poets were most notable at this time?

RELIGIOUS BUILDINGS Domed mosques and high minarets dominated Muslim cities –Domes and arches were adopted from Byzantine structures The Dome of the Rock was built in Jerusalem around 688 and is decorated with abstract geometric patterns and calligraphy –The calligraphy includes verses from the Quran

NON-RELIGIOUS ART Some Muslims painted human and animal figures in nonreligious art Human anatomy illustrations were also elaborately illustrated Some literature had illustrations in the text –Books of fables and poetry also had miniature paintings

DOME OF THE ROCK IN JERUSALEM

CENTERS OF LEARNING Caliphs established Baghdad as the greatest Muslim center of learning –The libraries attracted well paid and highly respected scholars Other cities like Cairo, Cordoba, and Timbuktu were also known centers of learning Made advances in philosophy, math, medicine, etc. Translated Persian, Sanskrit, and Greek texts into Arabic

PHILOSOPHY AND HISTORY Muslim scholars translated the texts of Greek Philosophers and also texts relating to Hinduism and Buddhism Ibn Rushd (Averroes) was a philosopher from Cordoba who commented on Aristotle’s work –He was exiled because his writings contradicted Islam Ibn Khaldun set standards for the scientific study of history –He stated that economics and social structure caused historical events –He also warned about common errors in history, including bias exaggeration, and overconfidence in accuracy of sources

TIMBUKTU MANUSCRIPTS The Timbuktu Manuscripts showing both mathematics and astronomy.

MATHEMATICS Al-Khwarizmi was one of the greatest Muslim mathematicians –Pioneered the study of algebra from the Arabic word al-jabr Created a book on mathematics that was translated into Latin and used in Europe as a textbook –The Compendious Book on Calculation by Completion and Balancing Also worked in astronomy by creating astronomical tables based on discoveries of Greeks and Indians

MEDICINE Under the rule of the Caliphs, hospitals were set up with trained doctors and physicians that had to pass a test before practicing medicine –Healthcare was provided to those in rural areas and those in jails Muhammad al-Razi was a lead physician at Baghdad’s chief hospital –He wrote many books on medicine including one about infectious diseases –He promoted treating the mind as well as the body Ibn Sina (Avicenna) was a doctor by the age of 16 to Persian nobles –He wrote Canon on Medicine an encyclopedia of what he, the Greeks, and the Arabs learned about diagnosing and treating diseases Muslims were the first to mix bitter medicines into sweet syrups or gums

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ORGANIZER! MUSLIM ACHIEVEMENTS ECONOMICS ARTS LITERATURE PHILOSOPHY SCIENCES