Spread of Islam and The Golden Age of Islam

 

Following the schism (split) between Sunni’s

and Shiites, the following dynasties

were formed, creating a Golden Age of Islam.

Arab tribal group who ruled the Islamic world from Damascus, Syria

Allowed the Islamic faith to be spread rapidly

Umayyad Dynasty: (661AD-750 AD)

Allow conquered people to practice their own religion so long as they paid a poll tax, ◦otherwise known as a non-believer tax

◦Some Christians and Jews even held positions in government

Replaced the Umayyads in 750 AD◦Few Umayyads escaped their wrath, moved to Spain

Moved capital to BaghdadBuilt a wealthy empire known for its advances

Led area into the Golden Age of Muslim culture

Abbasid Dynasty: (750 AD- 1258 AD)

While Europe was lost in the Dark Ages, Islam dominated and flourished in all aspects of society.

Golden Age of Islam

Development of calligraphy-◦Beautiful writing and patterns to decorate buildings and art

Art and architecture:

Used byzantine knowledge to design domes and arches

Painted people and animals in non-religious art

Developed advances in algebra and geometry

Math:

Astronomy◦Accurately recalculated the circumference of the earth

◦Studied eclipses

Science:

Medicine◦Required doctors to pass difficult tests

◦Set up hospitals with emergency rooms

Studied diseases and wrote medical books

Science

Established an international

trading network, connecting the

Middle East, Europe, West Africa, India, China and

Southeast Asia

Trade:

Considered the Quran (Koran) the most important piece of Arabic Literature

Created great work philosophy, poetry, and fictional tales◦Ex.) Aladdin, Thousand and One Nights

Literature:

Established universities and libraries in Cairo, Egypt; Baghdad, Iraq; Cordoba, Spain; and Timbuktu, West Africa

House of Wisdom

Scholars worked at preserving, translating, and advancing Greco-Roman, Egyptian, and Indian knowledge

Education:

Crusades (1100 AD- 1300 AD)

Demonstrated the superiority of Muslim technology and the impact of Islamic culture on the Middle East in their defeat of the Christians

Long term impact: renewed trade and cultural contracts with Europeans. This propelled Europe into the Renaissance.

Crusades and the End of a Golden Age

Around 1200 AD the Abbasid Dynasty began to decline

Ethnic differences◦Muslim groups did

not get along with Arabs, Persians, or the Turks

Crusades weakened rule

Attacks by the Mongols◦Captured the city of Baghdad

End of the Golden Age (Fall of Abbasids)