Muslim Achievements You will be filling out your chart by summarizing each passage to find the main idea and other important parts!!

Algebra Muslim scholars were very interested in furthering the developments of the ancient Greeks in mathematics. They spent hours trying to stump each other with difficult mathematical puzzles. For fun, they made “magic boxes “ that were grids containing numbers that added up to the same sum vertically, horizontally, and diagonally. The science of algebra, as we know it today, was introduced by the Muslims. The most famous scholar, Al Khwarazmi, introduced algebra to civilization in 810 C. E. Algebra comes from the words al-jabar, which mean “the bringing together of separate parts.” In algebra, a mathematician substitutes symbols such as x, y, or z for numbers in order to solve problems. Al-Khwarazmi

Astronomy Astronomy -- the scientific study of the skies -- was an area in which Islamic scientists made great achievements, mainly due to the fact they needed to know which way was east to pray towards Mecca. For centuries, astronomers relied on Alexandrian astronomer Ptolemy’s idea that the earth was the center of the universe, and that the sun, stars and other planets rotated around the earth. Muslim astronomers studied Ptolemy’s tables, made their own observations, and gradually corrected the mistakes that Ptolemy made. A new instrument used by the astronomers was an astrolabe. This device, when lined up with the sun, could measure latitude, tell the time of day, and determine positions of other stars and planets. Astrolabe

Banking System Banking systems were developed to help end the confusion caused by the many currencies (kinds of money) then in use. From this system came the word “check” from the Arabic word sakk. The Muslims had central banks with branch offices and an elaborate system of checks and letters of credit. It became possible for a check written on a bank in one part of the empire to be cashed in a distant city. This was important because international trade had expanded and goods were being sold throughout the empire and abroad.

Bookmaking During the rule of the Abbasids, Chinese soldiers captured during a battle in Asia were discovered to be artisans skilled in papermaking. These Chinese prisoners taught their captors how to make paper, and this new skill spread throughout the empire. As a result, books became more available and contributed to an interest in all kinds of learning. Since calligraphy was used to decorate books, it became a status symbol to own them. A sign of a wealthy, successful person was a well-stocked library.

Calligraphy Calligraphy, which means beautiful writing, is the art of elegant handwriting. Calligraphy was first used by the Muslims when the Arabs first began preparing copies of the Qur’an (the Muslim Holy Book). The words were written in calligraphy because only calligraphy was considered worthy for the word of God. Calligraphy was used to decorate textiles, ceramics, and metal with words of wisdom. In Muslim art, the words written in calligraphy are much admired for their beauty. The art of calligraphy was given such importance because in the early period of Islam, the use of visual images to depict humans or animals was forbidden.

Chess The game of chess was introduced to the Muslim world by the Persians, who had imported it first from India. The game became widely popular among men and women because of its difficulty and intellectual challenge. Caliphs (rulers) would invite champions of the game to chess matches at their palaces. The Muslims continued to adapt and improve the game. Eventually, they introduced it to the Europeans, who played it widely from the 13th century on.

Geometric & Floral Design Muslim art was mostly abstract, which meant that pictures did not represent real subjects like humans or animals. It was believed that human images were a sign of vanity, and would distract worshipers from praying to Allah. As a result, Muslim artists turned to plant patterns and geometric designs as subjects. The geometry of Islamic art was an expression of the idea that order exists everywhere and at all times. Despite the religious guidelines, paintings of both humans and animals did exist. They could be found in private places such as homes and the living quarters of the ruling classes.

Herbal Medicines & Pharmacies Muslim doctors experimented with the treatment of disease through herbal medicines. Sedatives were used to kill pain during surgery. Al-Zahrawi, a Muslim doctor from Spain, began using antiseptics (substances made form herbs to kill germs) to cleanse wounds, a practice unheard of in other parts of Europe until centuries later. Pharmacies in Baghdad began to design medicines to heal illnesses. Pharmacies filled prescriptions like CVS does today. Drugs were considered so important and dangerous that they were carefully supervised, both in preparation and in storage.

Hospitals An interest in treating illness can be traced back to the beginning of Islamic history when Muhammad himself stated that Allah had provided a cure for every illness. It was in the Muslim world that hospitals were first established. Hospitals were designed to promote health, cure diseases, and expand medical knowledge. By the 9th century, there were hospitals in all large Muslim towns. The most advanced hospital was the Adudi hospital in Baghdad—it attracted the best medical scholars and featured large buildings, lecture halls, pharmacies, and patient rooms. Patients with contagious diseases, as well as those recovering from surgery, were put in a separate section of the hospital.

House of Wisdom The House of Wisdom was an educational institution founded in Baghdad in 830. At the House of Wisdom, scholars from many parts of the world translated into Arabic, Greek, Persian and Indian texts on such topics as mathematics, astronomy, and logic. These scholars helped preserve Greek classics that might have otherwise been destroyed. The result of their work encouraged openness to new ways of thinking. This library became a model for other large libraries in the Islamic world. It was destroyed in the Mongol invasion of 1258. Historians reported that the waters of the Tigris ran black with ink from the enormous quantities of books flung into the river.

Irrigation Techniques & Underground Wells Because water was so scarce in the desert regions of the Islamic Empire, Muslims developed irrigation techniques and utilized underground wells. Dams, reservoirs, and aqueducts were constructed throughout the Islamic Empire. Underground wells were placed as much as 50 feet below ground in order to tap water sources and keep water from evaporating. Much of the agriculture of the Islamic Empire was dependent on irrigation techniques and underground wells, as well as many of the major cities.

Libraries of Cordoba In the 8th century a new and independent Muslim kingdom was established in Spain. Its capital city, Cordoba, became a center of learning and intellectual life. The most celebrated library in Cordoba was run by Caliph al-Hakam al–Mustansir. Al-Hakim, an accomplished scholar, sent book buyers all over the Muslim empire to find books for his library. Library clerks then carefully hand-copied the books while calligraphers and bookbinders created beautiful designs and covers. Al-Hakim’s library was said to have contained more than 400,000 books. The people of Cordoba also collected books for their home. Those who owned large libraries were regarded as important people in Cordoban society.

Music of Muslim Spain Europe’s first music school was established in Cordoba by an Arab named Ziryad. Musicians from Central Asia and Africa were hired by the royal courts to entertain important visitors. These musicians developed a distinct style that combined Classical Arab and native Spanish cultures. By the eleventh century, the music was so popular that royal courts often competed to see whose musicians’ created most pleasing songs. The instruments most often used were the oud, the ancestor to the guitar, the rebab, an instrument that resembles a violin, a ney, a simple wooden flute, and a darbuka, a goblet shaped drum. The origins of today’s instruments, including the oboe, trumpet, violin, guitar and harp may be traced back to the instruments of Muslim Spain.

Polo The game of polo was introduced to the Muslim world by the Persians. Polo is a ball and goal game played on horseback by two teams of four on a grass field with goal posts on each end. Players use a wooden mallet to strike a ball into the goal. The game became a great favorite among the wealthy classes because of the use of horses. The Abbasid rulers loved the game and raised fast moving, champion Arabian horses to improve polo. The Muslims adapted and improved the game, which was eventually introduced to the Europeans. Today it is played all over the world.

The City of Baghdad Baghdad, now the capital city of Iraq, was chosen by the Abbasid ruler to be the center of the empire in the eighth century. Baghdad was an ideal choice because it lay between two rivers and was at the crossroads of great trade routes. The city was built in concentric circles (each inside of the other) with a deep moat surrounding the walls. The citizens lived outside the walls, and the space between the outer and inner walls was left clear for defense. Between the middle and inner walls were the houses of the army officers. At the center of the city was the palace of the Caliph (ruler), who chose this spot to be at the center of his empire.

Zoology For years, the lifestyle of Muslims had been dependent upon animals for trade and travel. Al- Jahiz was one of the foremost scholars to study zoology. Born in the year 776 in Basra (Iraq) Al-Jahiz’s great contribution was to popularize science. During his lifetime, he composed about 200 works, including the most famous, The Book of Animals. This book contained a collection of knowledge about animals collected from the Qur’an, proverbs, storytellers, explorers and personal observations. While the book of animals was full of short, entertaining stories, it also contained important scientific theories and information.