1. Muslim Culture

2. Trade Networks Econ facilitators Econ facilitators –Single language & single currency Banks Banks –Letters of credit (sakk)  Exchange for cash @ other banks  In Europe  pronounced check

3. Setting the Stage Abbasids Abbasids –Prosperous period of Muslim history  Riches flowed in from –Europe, Asia, & Africa –Luxurious cities –Patronized arts & thought  Preserved knowledge  Produced original learning –Sophistication matched only by Tang (China)

4. Social Classes 4 classes 4 classes –Upper class = Muslim born –Converts to Islam – “Protected people”  Christians, Jews & Zoroastrians –Slaves  POW –All non-Muslim –Jobs  Household work  Serve in military  Manual labor

5. Women Qur’an Qur’an –Socially  Men are dominant –Control affairs of women –“Righteous woman is obedient” –Religiously  Equal as believers

6. Women Shari’a Shari’a –More econ & property rights than  European, Indian & Chinese @ same time period –Expected to submit to men –Men could have 4 wives  If he can provide for them ($)

7. Literature The Thousand and One Nights The Thousand and One Nights –Collection of fairy tales, parables & legends –Core = India & Persia  Muslims added stories & arranged them –King Shahryar  Marries a new wife each day –Kills her the next day –Scheherezade  Tells him stories 1001 nights  King falls in love w/ her

8. Art What was discouraged? What was discouraged? Why? Why? Purpose? Purpose? –Reflect = glory of Allah

9. Art Two types? Two types? Calligraphy Calligraphy –Pictures using letters Decorative arts Decorative arts –Woodwork, glass, ceramics & textiles –Style = Arabesque  Complex ornate design  Flowers or geometric patterns

10. Calligraphy (writing)

11. Arabesque

12. Ornate Stone & Tile Work

13. Ornate Metal Work

14. Architecture Greatest cultural blending Greatest cultural blending –Mosque @ Damascus  Huge dome & vaulted ceilings  Byzantine –Syria  Roman  Baths & heating systems –Cordoba  Great Mosque –2 levels of arches (original)

15. Cordoba

16. House of Wisdom Library, academy & translation center Library, academy & translation center Scholars collected & translated Scholars collected & translated –Scientific & philosophical text –From:  Greece, India, Persia & elsewhere

17. Science Problem solving: Problem solving: –Greeks  observation & logical –Muslims  experiments in lab Mathematics Mathematics –Al-Khwarizmi  “ the art of bringing together unknowns to match a known quantity ” –al-jabr  algebra

18. Medicine Al-Razi Al-Razi –Great physician –Wrote:  Comprehensive Book  Treatise on Smallpox and Measles Ibn al-Haytham Ibn al-Haytham –Optics  Revolutionized ideas about vision –Telescopes & microscopes

19. Astronomy Observatories charted Observatories charted –Stars, comets & planets Fulfill 3 of the Five Pillars Fulfill 3 of the Five Pillars –Need an accurate lunar calendar  Ramadan  Hajj –Study the sky  fix locations of cities  Pray  face Mecca  Travel & trade

20. Astronomy Inventions Inventions –Astrolabe –Fix plate  map of sky –Rotating rete  daily movement of the earth  Purpose: –Calculate time, celestial events & relative position –Armillary Sphere  Calendar