Islamic Golden Age and Empire

Muslim Conquests

Umayyad Dynasty

Islamic empire expanded from Spain to Indus River

Believers split into Sunni (90%) and Shiia (Shiite), over who should succeed Mohammad.

Shiite believe only Mohammad’s descendants should rule, they are majority in Iran and Iraq today.

The Sunni accepted Umayyad rule and are majority in world today.

Shari’ah Law Code

Drawn up by Muslim scholars after Mohammad’s death

Provided believers with a set of practical laws to regulate daily lives

Golden Age-Abbasid Empire

The Islamic Golden Age began with the Abbasid Caliphate in 750 CE

The capital was moved from Damascus to Baghdad

Valued Knowledge

The Abbasids were influenced by the Quran and hadiths (sayings of Mohammad or things approved by him) such as “The ink of the scholar is more holy than the blood of martyrs” that stressed the value of knowledge.

The Muslim world became the intellectual center for science, philosophy, medicine and education.

Muslim scholars recovered and introduced ancient texts from Greece, Persia, and India.

“House of Wisdom”The “House of Wisdom” was established in Baghdad Scholars, both Muslim and non-Muslim, gathered to translate all the world’s knowledge into ArabicThis effort preserved much the knowledge gained from the Greeks, Romans and other ancient civilizations

Golden Age Contributions

PhilosophyMedicineMathematicsAstronomyGeographySocial SciencesArt, ArchitectureLiterature

Philosophy

Ibn-Rushd (Averroes)-his work influenced medieval Christian theologians

Medicine

Physicians required to pass qualifying examinations34 hospitals built throughout empire, with separate wards for different diseasesArabic medical works translated into Latin and influenced European medicine until 17th century

Mathematics

Al-Khwarizmi compiled oldest known Arabic works on arithmetic and algebra which was translated into Latin and used as basis for European texts until 16th century

Astronomy

Developed compass, quadrant (measures angles), sextant (determines altitude of planets, latitude on earth), and astrolabe (locates, predicts positions of planets, determine local time, and surveying)

Geography

Mapped Europe, Asia, and Africa in great detail

Al-Idrisi used mathematics and astronomy to create maps

Social Sciences

Ibn-Battuta journeyed 75,000 miles in 30 years through all Arab countries, carefully recording his observationsIbn-Khaldun was father of modern historiography and sociology

Art and Architecture

Calligraphy

Arabesque

Alhambra palace

Art

Calligraphy-used to decorate mosques, books, carpets, and porcelain

Particularly important in mosques where pictures were not allowed

Art

Arabesque refers to a floral style which is not geometric, but weaves in and out of an illustration

Alhambra Palace

How Did the Expansion of the Islamic World Encourage Trade?

Arabic Language

Arabic became the “lingua franca” or the language of international communication in the medieval world.Traders and merchants learned Arabic in order to conduct their business.

Muslims Spread Transportation Technology

Expanded trans-Saharan trade:

Camels-Muslims brought the one-humped camel

North Arabian saddle- introduced to expand trans-Saharan trade.

Transportation Technology….

Dhow-boat with a lateen (triangular-shaped sail) used extensively by Arab and Muslim traders.

More Transportation Technology…

Cartography-advanced knowledge of wind patterns and map making was recorded in books supported by Islamic governments.

The Hajj

Muslims were encouraged to make the religious pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in their life. This meant that people were making more contact with one another and discovering new products and ideas.

Standardized Coins

Pictorial designs were replaced with Arabic inscriptions and became the standard for almost all coins produced by Muslims rulers.

Hospitality to Travelers & the Annual Hajj Created Regular Routes

Ibn Battuta, a Moroccan Muslim legal scholar and judge became famous for the documentation of his travels.

Muslim Governments Protected Trade & Property for Merchants

Storehouses were guarded.

Ports and shipping lanes were guarded.

Banking and credit systems were put into place.