Transcript The Golden Age of Islam

Golden Age of Islam
Topic: Golden Age of Islam
Aim: Why is the Islamic Empire known as the
“Goldenest”?
Agenda:
1. Notes on page 19
2. Map on page 18
3. Reading on page 20-21, questions on 22.
HW: Packet due next class.
The Golden Age of Islam
Muslim Economy
• Merchants were honored in the Muslim world
• Between 750-1350 A.D. Muslims built a vast trading
network throughout their empire and beyond.
• Common religion and language helped trade to thrive.
• Goods now traveled from China and India into parts of
Europe by way of the Silk Road.
• The Silk Road was not really a road but a track people
moved along to exchange goods such as silk, paper, gold,
furs, cotton, and silver.
The Islamic Empire
• Expanded to Middle East, North Africa, Spain, India,
Southeast Asia
Islamic Trade
• Extended Silk Road
• Bankers offered lines of
credits- Sakks “Checks”
Muslim Cities
• Damascus and Baghdad
become center of
Islamic learning
Social Classes
Muslims at birth
Converts to Islam
Protected people: Jews and
Christians
Slaves- POW
Role of Women
• Inferior to men
• Could get edu.
• Had to wear veil in
public
Preserving Greco-Roman Culture
• Translated GrecoRoman texts in “House
of Wisdom”
• Studied Greek
Philosophers like
Aristotle
Contributions in Literature, Art,
and Architecture
• Poetry based on love,
bravery, hospitality, and
Islam
• Calligraphy- Beautiful
Handwriting
• Architecture- beautiful
mosques. Used Roman
Arch
Manufacturing and Agriculture
• Most manufacturing was done
by wage workers.
• They produced goods such as
swords from Damascus, Persian
carpets, leathers from Spain, and
cotton goods from Egypt.
• Agriculture was practiced
primarily in Mesopotamia and
the Nile River Valley.
• Massive irrigation systems put in
place by the Abbasids greatly
increased the amount of
farmable land
Muslim Art
• The Koran strictly banned
idol worship and later
religious leaders forbade
artists from portraying human
figures in their art.
• Therefore Muslims art
consisted of elaborate
geometry patterns.
• They also used calligraphy
(the art of beautiful
handwriting) extensively and
used common phrases of the
Koran in their art.
Muslim Architecture
• Muslim architecture borrowed
techniques such as the arch
and dome from Greek, and
Roman structures.
• Around 690 A.D. Muslims
built a great mosque in
Jerusalem called the Dome of
the Rock which demonstrates
the use of Greek and Roman
techniques.
• In 850 A.D. Muslims built the
mosque at Samarra where they
revolutionized the construction
of minarets.
Arabic Literature
• The standard for Arabic
literature is the Koran
itself.
• Poetry had also been a
long tradition among
Arabs even before the time
of Muhammad.
• Storytelling was prized by
Arab writers.
• Many of their stories are
still told today:
– Ali Baba and the 40 thieves
– Aladdin
Contributions in Science
• Made advances in
Astronomy: Telescopes
and microscopes
• First person to fly
• Medicines
Muhammad Al-Razi
Why this time was the “Goldenest”
page 18
• Links the East to the West
• Helps preserve Greek and Roman
Culture.
• Make doctors pass tests, had ER’s
• United through Religion, but tolerant
• Learning is focus of whole empire
• Create Arabic number system (1-10)
Map to Color on top page 18
Now what?
• Do reading on page 20 and 21. Answer questions
on page 22.