Vocab List -Bazaar -Dowry-Ibn-Rushd -Astrolabe-Ibn Sina -Ibn Khaldun -Alhambra -Arabesques

I. Background A) Trade Flourished under Abbasid Dynasty (750-1250) Gold/Slaves from Africa Silk/Porcelain from China Spices from India B) Major Cities = Centers of culture/economy Baghdad, Iraq - Abbasid Damascus, Syria - Umayyad Cairo, Egypt - Fatimid Cordoba, Spain - Umayyad Urban and Rural Prosperity Extensive trade network: The Arab Empire developed a vast trading network that included China, India, and Africa. Flourishing cities: Trade led to the growth of major cities in the Arab Empire. Baghdad, Cairo, and Damascus became three of the greatest cities of the era. Islamic cities were characterized by their palaces, mosques, public buildings, and bazaars. Agriculture: Most Arabs lived in the countryside and raised crops or livestock. Wealthy landowners assembled large estates. Lands owned by the rulers were farmed by slave labor.

Baghdad, Iraq Today

Cairo, Egypt

Cordoba, Spain

Damascus

II. Islamic Society GUIDING QUESTION How were the principles of Islam reflected in the social structure of the Arab Empire? A) All Islamic Cities have: 1) Great Mosques for worship 2) Public Baths 3) Bazaars - Covered Marketplaces B) Social Structure - ruled by Islamic Teachings 1) All people equal in eyes of Allah, except Slaves 2) Many slaves came from Africa or non-Islamic populations in Asia 3) Served in army or as domestic servants 2) Considered good act to free your slave although Islamic teaching held that all groups were equal in the eyes of Allah all social groups were actually not equal in the Arab Empire: ruling families, senior officials, nomadic elites, wealthy merchants

III. Women A) Women - Spiritually/socially equal with men Could inherit property Arranged Marriage Could Divorce Can have up to four wives Dowry = $$$ for brides B) Limits on Freedom Adultery = Death by stoning Limits on social contact with men Must cover all parts of body Role of women: Although the Quran granted women equality with men, men dominated Arab society. Marriages were arranged for women by their guardians, and pre-Islamic Arab practices tended to limit the social freedom of women. Arab women wore veils before the time of Islam. There are three different terms for the veils: hijab is a general term for the veil worn by Muslim women, but it also refers to headscarf covering the face and neck; a chador is a cloak that covers the full body, with a headscarf worn underneath; a burka is a veil that completely covers the face and body

IV. House of Wisdom A) Translated works by Plato/Aristotle into Arabic Library in Baghdad kept them China introduces paper - 8th Century Brought back to Europe - 12th Century B) Mathematics - created Algebra C) Astronomy - created astrolabe, ability to determine location using stars above → helps sailors get to the Americas D) Medicine - discovered contagiousness of disease E) History - Ibn-Khaldun wrote on ancient civilizations Preservation of ancient knowledge: The works of ancient Greek philosophers, such as Aristotle and Plato, were translated and studied by Muslim scholars. Eventually, this knowledge was passed to western Europe. Mathematics: Arabs invented algebra, and they adopted numerals from India that spread to Europe. Astronomy: Muslims set up an observatory to study the stars, and developed the astrolabe as a navigational tool. Medicine: Medicine was made a field of scientific study by Muslims, who correctly described the contagious nature of certain diseases. The writing of history: A major Muslim historian was Ibn-Khaldūn, who adopted a cyclical theory of history. He argued that civilizations go through cycles of birth, growth, and decline.

V. Art & Architecture Islamic Arts Focus on Spiritual Glory *Literary works: book of poetry called the Rubaiyat by Omar Khayyám, *Blend of traditions in visual art *Mosques and palaces Among the most famous works of literature produced in the Arab Empire is a book of poetry called the Rubaiyat by Omar Khayyám, a Persian. It is still read today in both the Eastern and Western worlds *Islamic art drew on Arab, Turkish, and Persian traditions. Muslim artists focused on geometric patterns of calligraphic, botanic, and abstract forms rather than on portrayals of human figures.

V. Art & Architecture A) Art found in Mosques Alhambra - Granada, Spain Mostly Arabic letters and plants ***Cannot represent Muhammad B) Minaret - Towers from which Muezzin (Criers) call for muslims to pray 5x a day The most distinctive expressions of Islamic architecture are found in places of worship, such as the Great Mosque of Sāmarrā', and in elaborately decorated, fortress-like palaces, such as the Alhambra in Granada, in southern Spain.

Types of Minarets

Minarets

Daily Quiz 9 1) What is the maximum number of wives a muslim man can have? 2) If I want to sell some goods in an Islamic city, I would find myself in a ________. 3) The Arabic Empire is famous for preserving classic greek works and giving you one of your favorite classes: _________ 4) Why is a Muezzin on top of a Minaret? 5) Using this device ________ sailors like Christopher Columbus will be able to sail across the Atlantic and know their location despite the vastness of the Ocean.