Ch. 2, Sec. 3 Notes – Muslim Ways of Life

Islamic Trade Caravans and merchants traveled all over Asia, Africa Traded spices, cloth, glass, steel, and carpets for rubies, silk, ivory, gold, and slaves Arabic became the language of business during this time

Islamic Cities Baghdad, Cairo, Damascus amongst great cities of the time Built great mosques, or Muslim houses of worship, that served as religious and learning centers Bazaars, or open marketplaces, attracted buyers and sellers from all over the world

Muslim society Divided into three social classes – upper class (wealthy businessman, landowners), lower class (farmers, artisans, and workers), and slaves Muslims cannot be slaves, so they bought or captured slaves from non-Muslim areas

Islamic Intellectualism In 830 A.D., the Abbasid caliph Mamun founded the House of Wisdom in Baghdad where countless Greek, Persian, and Indian works were rewritten in Arabic

Islamic Mathematics and Science Invented Algebra and borrowed the symbols 0 through 9 from India Al-Razi and other scientists developed chemistry Ibn Sina theorized that diseases are spread by germs

Islamic Architecture Minarets are towers from which the crier (muezzin) calls the faithful to prayer Buildings such as the Taj Mahal and the Alhambra in Granada are Islamic