1. Muslims Seek Knowledge
By, Kellie O’Brien and Ava Demanes

2. Muhammad Could not read or write Inspired Muslims
Boys and girls were educated
Reading and writing
Used the skills to read Quran
Schools
Religious instruction
Islamic law study

3. Centers of Learning Baghdad Other cities also learning centers
Established by Al-Mamun
Greatest Muslim center of learning
Libraries
Attracted wealthy scholars
Other cities also learning centers
Scholars advanced in many fields
Preserved learning of earlier civilizations and translated to Arabic

4. Philosophy and History
Muslim Scholars
Translated works of philosophers and texts
Harmonize Greek ideas about reason
Ibn Rushd
Put all knowledge, except Quran to test of reason
Writings on Aristotle translated
Ibn Khaldun
Set standards for study of history
Stressed economics and socials structure
Warned about common causes of error
Urged historians to trust sources after investigation

5. Mathematics al-Khwarizmi Great Muslim mathematician
Pioneered study of algebra
Wrote a book translated to Latin
Became standard math textbook
Contributed to other fields
Developed astronomical tables

6. Medicine Physicians and pharmacists Government set up hospitals
Required to pass test
Government set up hospitals
Physicians traveled to rural areas
Muhammad al-Razi
Head physician at Baghdad’s chief hospital
Wrote books on medicine
Challenged accepted medical practices
“Treat the mind as well as the body”
Recovery was faster if doctors were hopeful

7. Medicine (cont.) Ibn Sina Other Muslims Arab pharmacists
Persian physician
Doctor by age 16
Canon on Medicine-encyclopedia on diagnosing and treating diseases
Other Muslims
-- developed way to treat cataracts
Arab pharmacists
-- 1st to mix bitter medicine with sweet syrup and gum
Arabic texts later translated into Latin

8. Review Questions
1. Muhammad could not read or write but he inspired Muslims to learn. True or False
2. The greatest center of Muslim learning was Timbuktu. True or False
3. One of the greatest mathematicians was Ibn Khaldun. True or False
4. Some of the greatest Muslim advances were in philosophy, history,mathematics, and medicine. True or False
5. Muslims made important advances in medicine and public health with the knowledge of the ancient Egyptians. True or False
6. Ibn Sina was a famous Persian physician who was a doctor at the age of 16. True or False
7. Physicians and pharmacists had to pass a test before they could practice their professions. True or False