750-1258 CE:The Golden Age of Islam:

The Height of the Islamic Empire:Science, Philosophy, Technology:

A Bunch of Neat Stuff:

Where did we leave off...?

• What happened to Muhammad?

• Who was in charge after?

• Why were they in charge?

• Did everyone get along?• Who was that last group

in charge last class?

Also...• I asked you to predict

what would happen next!

• Did you come up with anything?

• What has been the most surprising thing about the history of the Middle East that you have learned so far?

• Take a moment to think about it and write

Out with the Umayyad….

• While the Umayyads enjoyed their rule from 661-750 CE, it was considered an elitist dynasty of Arabs

• All in power were Arabs from those old clans from Damascus

• Other groups from the old Persian empire began to push for more power

In With the Abbasid

• The Abbasids considered themselves more in tune with a multi-cultural Islamic empire

• Moved the capital from Damascus to Baghdad which was next to the old Persian capital: Ctesiphon

• Why would a new group of rulers do that?

New dynasty, new flavour

• Islam had expanded to the point where the term “Islamic” and “Arab” Empire gets a bit inaccurate

• The Islamic character of the rulers was reduced

• The influence of Persians (as opposed to Arabs) increased

Do They get Assassinated!?• No, well...maybe some...

there was more than just political intrigue going on within the empire

• To understand this period we have to go beyond the killings

• Many great achievements were made during this period

• The Abbasid Dynasty is known as the Golden Age of Islam

Golden Age of Islam VideoWhat are some of the inventions in the video?

Do these inventions have links to technology today?

Are you surprised about any of the inventions listed in the video?

Architecture and engineering• Mosques were

representations of faith and wealth

• Represented Islam as a positive force creating impressive works of art and engineering in society

• Arabs were able to devise clever methods of irrigation for farming

• Large libraries were built to house books of philosophy and science

Philosophy!• Many of the philosophical

writings, books, ideas from Classical Greece were gathered and maintained in the libraries of the Arab Empire

• While Europe was in the Dark Ages (the absence of scientific and philosophical thought), the Arab Empire gathered these books, learned from them, and added to them

Medicine• Yuhanna ibn Massuwayh

studied allergic reactions, dissections

• Az-Zahrawi is known as the father of surgery, knew about using animal intestines for stitching

• Important hospitals were constructed in Damascus (706 CE) and in Baghdad (982 CE)

Medicine...Cont’d• The first known

pharmacies were built in Baghdad in 754 CE

• Ibn Sina was an early holistic doctor who recognized the importance of hygiene and diet to health, also one of early users of anesthesia

• His book Canon of Medicine was used as a medical text for 600 years

Why did these things happen?

• “The scholar’s ink is more sacred than the blood of martyrs” – The Quran

• The spread of Arabic allowed better communication

• United people are more likely to speak to each other and spread knowledge

Key Concepts!• Education and the

pursuit of knowledge was valued

• Islam encouraged people to learn a common language to read the Quran; Arabic

• Common language and religion gave people a way to relate to each other beyond clan membership

Not Everything was golden Though.....Slaves

• Slavery still existed throughout the Empire, even though Islam forbid it

• Slaves were not treated in the American sense though

• Some slaves were able to acquire great wealth, and power within the Arab Empire as soldiers

Not Everything Changed Though.....Women

• The position of women in society was not equal to that of men

• Though they could play an important role in poorer families economically, wealthy men kept a harem

• The Quran did not outlaw polygamy, so Arab tradition continued and multiple wives were allowed

All good things must eventually come to an end

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