Transcript The Golden Age of Muslim Civilization

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Arab Merchants
◦ Asia, North Africa and along the Mediterranean
Coast
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Arab Armies
◦ Fail to take Constantinople in 717
◦ Muslim Armies move into Spain
◦ Muslims advance into Christian Europe
 Stopped at the Battle of Tours (modern day France)
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Centuries before Muhammad, Islam had not
been able to conquer neighboring regions
◦ Roman Empire
◦ Byzantine Empire
◦ Persian Empire
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After Muhammad’s death, all three empires
had either been defeated or weakened
Also a shared religion now united the Arab
peoples into one group.
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Unlike the Byzantines before them, Muslims
tolerated other faiths.
Muslims allowed Christians and Jews to
practice their own religions and pursue their
own business affairs.
Non-Muslim citizens did have fewer rights
than Muslim citizens
◦ Could not carry weapons
◦ Could not serve in military
◦ Paid a special tax to support the government
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Golden Age of Muslim culture lasted from
about 800 to 1100
Caliphs (religious Muslim rulers) helped the
empire grow strong and wealthy.
Bagdad was the capital of the Muslim Empire
during its golden age
◦ Bagdad was a natural center for trade
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Traders brought goods from all over the
world to the Caliph’s court.
◦ The Caliph was considered Muhammad’s successor.
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Arab scholars not only crated new works but
also studied history and ideas from other
cultures
◦ Advancements in Mathematics, Science and
Literature.
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Arab scholars studied both Greek and Indian
mathematics
◦ They learned the idea of Zero and “Arabic
Numerals” from Indian scholars
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Discovery of Algebra (“al-jabr”)
◦ Enabled scientist to make great discoveries in
astronomy, physics and chemistry.
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Arab Scholars organized medical knowledge
of the Greeks and Arabs
Made great advances in:
◦ Anatomy (study of structure of bodies)
◦ Physiology (study of functioning of living things)
◦ Pharmacology (study of drugs)
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Muslim writers made lasting works of
literature.
◦ Poetry was import to the Islamic world
◦ Poets were treated as popular as musicians are
today
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One group of Muslims used poetry to teach
their ideas and beliefs.
◦ Sufis, Mystics who believed that they could draw
close to God through prayer, fasting and a simple
life.
◦ They taught that the world will reveal its mysteries
to carful observers.