THE M

USLIM W

ORLD -

ACHIEVEMENTS

Student will demonstrate knowledge of Islamic civilization from about 600 to 1000 C.E. byCiting cultural and scientific contributions and achievements of Islamic civilization

Essential QuestionsHow did Islamic civilization preserve and extend ancient Greek, Persian, and Indian learning?

What were some contributions of Islamic civilization?

OBJECTIVES

DamascusLocated in modern day Syria

Known for its fine cloth called damask and for outstanding steel and armor

Cultural center of Islamic learning

CordobaLocated in modern-day Spain Umayyad capital

Population of over 500,000Mix of Muslims, Christians, and Jews created a cosmopolitan atmosphere

Center of Muslim culture 70 libraries, 700 mosques,

and 27 free schools

RISE OF MUSLIM URBAN CENTERS

DAMASCUS CORDOBA

CairoLocated in modern-day Egypt

The Fatimid capital

City of BaghdadAbbasid capital

Selected in 762 C.E. along the Tigris river

100,000 architects, workers, etc. to build the city

At it’s peak a population of over 1 million

Unique circular design call the “round city” Three protective walls ringed the

city Caliph’s palace located in inner

most circle along with grand mosque

CITY BUILDING AND ARCHITECTURE

Muslim society was made up of four social classes Upper class

Born Muslim Paid least amount of taxes

Second class Converts to Islam Paid a higher tax that

upper class, but lower than bottom two classes

Protected people Christians, Jews, and

Zoroastrians Slaves

Prisoners of war, non-Muslims

Performed household work or fought in military

Role of women As believers, men and

women are equal according to the Qur’an

“Men are the managers of women’s affairs” and “righteous women are therefore obedient”

Shari’a law gave women specific legal rights concerning marriage, family, and property

More rights than European women of the time period

Could have access to education

Main responsibility was to raise children

SOCIAL STRUCTURE

Advancement of scholarship Practical concerns

Relied on math and astronomy to calculate prayers times and the direction of Mecca

Deep curiosity Quest for truth that

dated back to Muhammad

Emphasis on study and scholarship

Protection of European knowledge Muslim leaders and scholars

helped to preserve and expand ancient knowledge from Europe, Persia, and India

Houses of Wisdom First library/academy

opened in early 800s in Baghdad

Translated works into Arabic

1ST universities

Arabic language Became the language of

learning and scholarship

MUSLIM SCHOLARSHIP

al-Razi Greatest physician of

the Muslim world Wrote encyclopedia

called the Comprehensive book

Believed patients would recover better if they were exposed to clean air

Hospital experiment

Astronomy Compasses used to locate

the direction of Mecca Figured out the exact times

for prayer and length of Ramadan

Study of Optics Used to develop telescopes

and microscopes

Geography Calculated Earth’s

circumference within 9 miles of its correct value

Produced a world atlas with dozens of maps

Compass

MEDICAL ADVANCES/ SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Two major ideas introduced by Muslim Scholars Reliance on

scientific observation and experimentation

Mathematics as the basis of all knowledge

Spread Indian concept of zero used Arabic numerals

Al- Khwarizmi Born in Baghdad in

late 700s C.E. Studied Indian

sources rather than Greek

Wrote textbook explaining Algebra

Al-jabr

MATHEMATICS/ SCIENCE

Translated the works of the Greek philosophers into Arabic

Ibn Rushd Tried to harmonize

Greek writings of Aristotle and Plato with Islam

Was attacked by some religious thinkers

Argued both beliefs had the same goal- to find truth

Ibn Sina Most famous philosopherAll knowledge from God, had proof that the soul was immortal

PHILOSOPHY

Strong tradition of literature in Arabia before arrival of Islam Bedouin poets

Qur’an is the standard for all Arabic literature and poetry Poetry sang praises

of Muhammad and of Islam

The Sufis known for their poetry Focused on mystical

experiences with God

Popular literature The Thousand and

One Nights Collection of fairy tales,

parables, and legends

MUSLIM LITERATURE

Arab rich artistic traditions were enhanced by Islam Islam forbade

depiction of living things

based on the idea that only Allah can create life

Led to development of Calligraphy

Art of beautiful handwriting

Architecture Greatest cultural

blending Blend of Byzantine,

Persian, and European influences

Mosques Usually had a minaret

(tower) and a prayer room inside

Variety of design styles that reflected the diversity of Muslim lands

MUSLIM ART AND ARCHITECTURE

ARCHITECTURE

DOME OF THE ROCK

THE GREAT MOSQUE IN MECCA

Muslim Cultural Achievements Muslim Scientific Achievements

Architecture Arabic numerals

Mosaics Algebra

Arabic Alphabet Medicine

Universities Expansion of geographic knowledge

Translation of ancient texts to Arabic