Medieval Islamic Civilization

Arab Innovations
and Adaptations

What important innovations and adaptations did medieval Muslims make?

Introduction

Islamic World

  • 750 C.E.Muslims ruled Spain, North Africa, the Middle East, and Central Asia
  • Arabs, Persians, TurksMany peoples helped build Islamic civilization
  • Sugar, rice, orangesal-sukkar, al-ruzz, naranj: foods Muslims spread
  • Mattress and sofaEnglish words that come from Arabic
  • Pajamas and tambourineEnglish words that come from Persian
Notes · Section 1

The Flowering of Islamic Civilization

  • AdaptationA change made to an existing object
  • InnovationSomething new, or an improvement
  • Cultural diffusionSpreading ideas from one culture to another
Watch the videoPlays right here
Notes · Section 1

Crossroads of Trade

Trade routes linking Asia, Europe, and Africa met in the Middle East.
  • Ideas travel tooTraders carried learning, like paper making and numbers
Notes · Section 2

City Building and Architecture

  • The mosqueA Muslim house of worship
  • MinaretThe tower of a mosque
  • MuezzinChants the call to prayer from the minaret
  • Mats or carpetsWorshippers pray on them on the floor
  • MinbarThe raised pulpit where the imam gives the sermon
Notes · Section 2

Baghdad

  • Caliph al-MansurMoved the capital from Damascus to Baghdad
  • Between two riversA village between the Tigris and Euphrates (Iraq)
  • 100,000 workersTook 4 years to build the “round city”
  • At the centerThe caliph’s palace and a grand mosque
Notes · Section 3

Scholarship and Learning

  • House of WisdomBaghdad, 830 C.E.: scholars translated Greek, Persian, and Indian books
  • Hall of WisdomCairo, 10th century: a library open to scholars and ordinary people
  • Cordoba, SpainA library with as many as 400,000 books
Notes · Section 4

Science and Technology

  • ZoologyStudy of animals. In the 800s, al-Jahiz wrote about how animals change (evolution).
  • AstronomyFound the direction of Makkah, prayer times, and Ramadan’s length
  • IrrigationUnderground wells, river dams, and water wheels
Notes · Section 5

Geography and Navigation

  • Round EarthScholars agreed Earth is round but disagreed on its size
  • The Book of Roads and ProvincesMaps and descriptions of trade routes
  • The Book of CountriesFacts about each region: location, land, and resources
  • Compass and astrolabeTools to find direction and location
Notes · Section 6

Mathematics

  • Father of Algebraal-Khwarizmi, a scholar at the House of Wisdom
  • Textbook for EuropeHis algebra book became Europe’s most important math textbook (12th century)
  • Arabic numerals1, 2, 3… made math easier than Roman numerals
  • ZeroAn idea from India that Muslims spread
Watch the videoPlays right here
Notes · Section 7

Medicine

  • First hospitalsOpen to all people; many also trained new doctors
  • Prince of PhysiciansIbn Sina, a Persian doctor and philosopher (Avicenna)
  • The Canon of MedicineIbn Sina’s medical book, used in Europe’s medical schools
Notes · Section 8

Bookmaking and Literature

  • Making paperLearned from the Chinese in the 8th century
  • Illuminated pagesPages decorated with gold designs and small paintings
Notes · Section 8

A Thousand and One Nights

  • A new story every nightA wife tells her husband a new tale each night
  • AladdinThe magic lamp story, added later by a European translator
  • Ali BabaThe treasure cave story, added later by a European translator
  • Sinbad the SailorSea voyage stories, added later by a European translator
Notes · Section 9

Art and Music

  • Geometric and floral designPatterns from shapes and nature, not people or animals
  • ArabesqueStems, leaves, and flowers repeated in elegant patterns
  • CalligraphyThe art of beautiful handwriting
  • First music schoolFounded by Ziryab in Cordoba, Spain, in 822
Watch the videoPlays right here
Notes · Section 10

Recreation

  • PoloPlayed on horseback; Muslims learned it from the Persians
  • ChessProbably from India; Muslims spread it to Europe

Summary

Cultural diffusion: Muslim empires connected Asia and Europe.

Architecture: Advanced city building and design.

Science: Studied disciplines like astronomy and geography.

Math: Introduced algebra.

Medicine: Influenced European practices.

Literature: Produced books and poetry.

Art & Music: Developed unique styles.

Recreation: Popularized polo and chess.

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