Islamic Civilization

• Islamic traders linked Af., Euro., & Asia• Muslims absorbed culture from others – Math from India; Technology from China

• Cultural umbrella (common religion & language)

I. Cultural Diffusion

• Islam combined & spread cultures:– 1. geographic location – 2. character of Islamic religion• a. tolerated other religions• b. made pilgrimages to Mecca• c. had to learn Arabic• d. valued trade

A. Religious Toleration

• Other faiths lived w/out persecution & contributed their culture to society – Christians & Jews were employed by the govt.

B. The Pilgrimage

• The hajj brought people together (cultures blend)• Exchanged ideas & learned about other ways of

life• Hajji – title earned after making the hajj – Carried ideas back to native lands

C. The Arabic Language

• Qur’an = Arabic • Official language of religion & govt. • Aided in cultural diffusion • Euros?

D. Muslim Trade

• Islamic civ. = trading activity• Controlled the Med. Sea & Indian Ocean – From China = spices, silk, & paper– From India = coconuts, tin, rubies, spices, tropical

woods

• Muslims acted as “middle man” betw. East & West

II. Muslim Scholarship

• Many excellent scholars• “The ink of the scholar is holier than the blood of

the martyr.” (Muhammad) • 476: Rome fell (Islam preserved knowledge)• Scholars collected & translated scientific &

philosophical texts• 800s: Caliph al-Ma’mun – House of Wisdom– Combination library, academy, & translation center

A. Muslim Literature

• Literature started w/Bedouins• Qur’an = standard for all Arabic lit. & poetry – Sang praises of the Prophet & of Islam

• The Thousand and One Nights – King Shahryar – married & murdered wives – Scheherezade – began stories, never finished them– After 1001 nights – Shahryar allowed her to live

• Collection of fairytales of Arabic, Egyptian, Indian, E. Asian, & Persian origin = A Thousand Tales

B. Muslim Art & Architecture

• Muslims adapted others’ architecture to suit Islamic beliefs & practices– Ex. Only Allah can create life, thus, no images of

living beings• Calligraphy • Arabesque (detailed geometric patterns)

– Architecture = major Islamic artform • Mosques

• Textiles – silk “taftah” (Persian) became taffeta (Euro.)

• Wool carpets (Persian, Egyptian, Turkish)

C. Music

• “the devil’s call to damnation” • Important part of ordinary life• 7th cent.—Tways created Islamic music • Later influenced music in Spain & the Americas

D. Medical Advances

• al-Razi (Persian scholar) –greatest physician – Comprehensive Book (medical encyclopedia)– Treatise on Smallpox & Measles (infectious diseases)

• Introduced use of animal gut for stitches • Treated diseases of the eyes (cataracts) • Borrowed from Greeks, Indians, & others • Discovered healing drugs & ointments • First school of pharmacy

E. Math & Science

• Mathematics = basis of all knowledge• al-Khwarizimi – Mathematician (late 700s)– Studied Indian sources– Wrote textbook explaining “the art of bringing together

unknowns to match a known quantity”• “al-jabr” (algebra)

• Astronomy – Ibn al-Haytham – wrote “Optics” –revolutionized ideas

about vision

• Muslims learned decimal system from India– “Arabic numerals”

• Ibn-Batuta

the Ka’aba• 35’ X 40’, and 50’• Built by Abraham & Ishmael • Black embroidered cloth• S.E. corner = sacred black stone– From heaven– Gabriel gave to Abraham– White?

• Replica of the House of God in the 7th heaven– Heaven = 7 levels– Hell = 7 levels (punishment fits the sin)