OBJECTIVES
Student will demonstrate
knowledge of Islamic
civilization from about
600 to 1000 C.E. by
Citing cultural and scientific
contributions and
achievements of Islamic
civilization
Essential Questions
How did Islamic civilization
preserve and extend ancient
Greek, Persian, and Indian
learning?
What were some
contributions of Islamic
civilization?
RISE OF MUSLIM URBAN CENTERS
Damascus
Located in modern day
Syria
Known for its fine cloth
called damask and for
outstanding steel and
armor
Cultural center of Islamic
learning
Cordoba
Located in modern-day
Spain
Umayyad capital
Population of over 500,000
Mix of Muslims, Christians,
and Jews created a
cosmopolitan atmosphere
Center of Muslim culture
70 libraries, 700 mosques,
and 27 free schools
DAMASCUS CORDOBA
CITY BUILDING AND ARCHITECTURE
Cairo City of Baghdad
Located in modern-day Abbasid capital
Egypt Selected in 762 C.E. along the Tigris
river
The Fatimid capital
100,000 architects, workers, etc.
to build the city

At its peak a population of over 1

million

Unique circular design call the

round city
Three protective walls ringed the city
Caliphs palace located in inner most
circle along with grand mosque
SOCIAL STRUCTURE
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 Quran
Men are the managers of
womens affairs and righteous
women are therefore obedient
Sharia 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
MUSLIM SCHOLARSHIP
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
MEDICAL ADVANCES/ SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
al-Razi Astronomy
Greatest physician of Compasses used to locate the
direction of Mecca
the Muslim world Figured out the exact times for
Wrote encyclopedia prayer and length of Ramadan
called the Study of Optics
Comprehensive book Used to develop telescopes and
microscopes
Believed patients
would recover better if
they were exposed to Geography
clean air Calculated Earths
circumference within 9 miles of
Hospital experiment its correct value
Produced a world atlas with
dozens of maps
Compass
MATHEMATICS/ SCIENCE

Two major ideas Spread Indian concept of

introduced by Muslim zero
Scholars used Arabic numerals
Reliance on scientific
observation and
experimentation Al- Khwarizmi
Born in Baghdad in late
Mathematics as the 700s C.E.
basis of all knowledge Studied Indian sources
rather than Greek
Wrote textbook explaining
Algebra
Al-jabr
PHILOSOPHY
Translated the works of Ibn Sina
the Greek philosophers Most famous philosopher
into Arabic All knowledge from God, had
proof that the soul was
immortal
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
MUSLIM LITERATURE

Strong tradition of The Sufis known for

literature in Arabia their poetry
before arrival of Islam Focused on mystical
Bedouin poets experiences with God

Popular literature
Quran is the standard
The Thousand and One
for all Arabic literature Nights
and poetry Collection of fairy tales,
Poetry sang praises of parables, and legends
Muhammad and of
Islam
MUSLIM ART AND ARCHITECTURE
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
ARCHITECTURE

DOME OF THE ROCK T HE G R E AT M O S Q U E 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