Accomplishments of Islam By: Kaddie Hanson, Arianna Ramirez, and Zandra Stewart
The Golden Age of Islam The Abbasid caliphate from 7501258 CE Was known as the Golden Age because Muslim scholars developed various achievements in these categories: a. Literary Achievements b. Scientific Achievements c. Artistic Achievements
Literary Accomplishments Unifying force of the Arabic language The Qur an could only be written in Arabic Muslims were forced to learn Arabic Borrowed paper from China Could share writing cheaply and easily Production of books
Literary Accomplishments Greatest literary art was poetry Thousands of poems were created during Islam's Golden Age Poems were meant to be sung and recited aloud in Arabic Jalal aldinalrumi, wrote mystic poetry that provided insight into the beliefs of Sufis Arabic literature reflects a love of storytelling Their thoughts of love were shown through folk tales Example: The Thousand and One Nights, based on stories told by Scheherazade, a young bride trying to save her own life Told a great deal about elite society during Abbasids golden age; would describe the elaborate lifestyles of the rich in Baghdad; exhibit a sense of humor and a fondness for exaggeration
Literary Accomplishments There were also urban universities called madrassas They would preserve and translate the writings of the ancient Greeks and Indians Became intrigued with the scientific and philosophical work from earlier civilizations Mostly just with Aristotle After the fall of the Western Roman Empire Knowledge of Plato, Aristotle, Ptolemy, Hippocrates, and other Greek scholars had been lost, the Islamic empire took it upon themselves to gather their saved work and pass it onto later civilizations
Scientific Accomplishments Arabs also borrowed the invention of paper from China. Muslims were really intrigued by the works of Aristotle. Arabs also built on the mathematical knowledge of the ancient Hindu scholars, who had invented the concept of zero and a number.their arabic numerals are still the ones that we use today, and these numbers allowed the development of aljabr, or as we know algebra. Arabs made advances in optical science, pharmacology and anatomy. Arabic and persian writers and travelers also put together an extensive collection of geographical information, including maps of islamic domains Learning was a very important aspect of life in all muslim communities, which added to the cultural unity.
Scientific Accomplishments Later on European intellectual achievements grew out of the work of muslim scholars AlRazi describes and treated smallpox in the 10th century. (He used alcohol as an antiseptic) Ibn Sina diagnosed and treated meningitis in the 11th century Ibn alhaytham discovered the camera obscura in the 11th century. He used the camera to show how light travels in straight lines from the object to form an inverted object. Muslims have always had a special interest in astronomy. The sun and the moon was a very important aspect in the daily average Muslim. With the phases of the moon they knew when it was time to pray or when to fast. The Quran has many references to astronomy: "The heavens and the earth were ordered rightly, and were made subservient to man, including the sun, the moon, the stars, and day and night. Every heavenly body moves in an orbit assigned to it by God and never digresses, making the universe an orderly cosmos whose life and existence, diminution and expansion, are totally determined by the Creator." [Qur'an 30:22] References like those are what encouraged the Muslims to study the heavens.
Scientific Accomplishments The sun and the moon was a very important aspect in the daily average Muslim. With the phases of the moon they knew when it was time to pray or when to fast. The Quran has many references to astronomy: "The heavens and the earth were ordered rightly, and were made subservient to man, including the sun, the moon, the stars, and day and night. Every heavenly body moves in an orbit assigned to it by God and never digresses, making the universe an orderly cosmos whose life and existence, diminution and expansion, are totally determined by the Creator." [Qur'an 30:22] References like those are what encouraged the Muslims to study the heavens. Muslim astronomers were the first to establish observatories, like the one built at Mugharah by Hulagu, the son of Genghis Khan, in Persia, and they invented instruments such as the quadrant and astrolabe, which led to advances not only in astronomy but in oceanic navigation, contributing to the European age of exploration.
Scientific Accomplishments Muslim scholars paid great attention to geography. In fact, the Muslims' great concern for geography originated with their religion. The Qur'an encourages people to travel throughout the earth to see God's signs and patterns everywhere. Islam also requires each Muslim to have at least enough knowledge of geography to know the direction of the Qiblah (the position of the Ka'bah in Makkah) in order to pray five times a day. Muslims were also used to taking long journeys to conduct trade as well as to make the Hajj and spread their religion. Among the most famous names in the field of geography, even in the West, are Ibn Khaldun and Ibn Batuta, renowned for their written accounts of their extensive explorations. In 1166, AlIdrisi, the wellknown Muslim scholar who served the Sicilian court, produced very accurate maps, including a world map with all the continents and their mountains, rivers and famous cities. AlMuqdishi was the first geographer to produce accurate maps in color.
Scientific Accomplishments AlRazi describes and treated smallpox in the 10th century. (He used alcohol as an antiseptic) Ibn Sina diagnosed and treated meningitis in the 11th century "God created no illness, but established for it a cure, except for old age. When the antidote is applied, the patient will recover with the permission of God." This was strong motivation to encourage Muslim scientists to explore, develop, and apply empirical laws. Much attention was given to medicine and public health care. The first hospital was built in Baghdad in 706 AC. The Muslims also used camel caravans as mobile hospitals, which moved from place to place. Since the religion did not forbid it, Muslim scholars used human cadavers to study anatomy and physiology and to help their students understand how the body functions. This empirical study enabled surgery to develop very quickly.
Artistic Accomplishments The art of glassblowing was perfected Had mini paintings that contained glass, silver, brass, and ivory objects Manuscripts were often written in calligraphy and were painstakingly illuminated Royal Robes and other textiles feature lavish embroidery Islamic religious tradition discourages the depiction of human figures in religious art, so Muslim artists developed or adopted many unique decorative elements Islamic buildings of this era borrow domes and arches from the Byzantine Empire and are adorned with calligraphy, geometric designs and arabesques.
Artistic Accomplishments Islam was very well known for its architecture, with elaborate geometric designs Like the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem, built in 691 CE on top of Judaism's holiest site, used as a political statement, a religious monument and a display of grandeur, its outer walls were originally tiled, as seen in modern restoration. The exterior of the dome was once lead and was replaced by by varying metals throughout time. Today the dome is covered in gold leaf. The interior of the dome is decorated with mosaics and calligraphy. Islamic buildings of this era borrow domes and arches from the Byzantine Empire and are adorned with calligraphy, geometric designs and arabesques.