Golden Age of Islam

Topic: Golden Age of Islam

Aim: Why is the Islamic Empire known as the “Goldenest”?

Agenda:1.Notes on page 192.Map on page 183.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 Greco-Roman 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.