Islamic Civilization
CHAPTER 6 SECTION 3
732-1212 C.E.
Prosperity in the Islamic World

Generally speaking , the Islamic empire was very wealthy. The
Islamic Empire made the majority of its wealth through trade with a
number of other established civilizations.

Imports – Gold, Slaves, Ivory, (From Africa) ; Silk, Porcelain (China) ;
Spices & Sandalwood (SE Asia & India)

Exports – Linens, Dates, Stones, & Grain
The Role of Cities

A number of cities grew and Flourished under the Islamic Empire.
The constant movement of the capital insured that many of the
cities that held administrative positions grew thanks to trade
centered around it.

Wealthy Islamic cities included Baghdad (C), Damascus (C),
Cordoba ( C ), and Cairo

Architecturally, the grandest buildings in these cities were either
administrative buildings or Mosques.

Bazaars, or outdoor covered markets was also a feature of large
Islamic cities. These Bazaars gave access to goods to these citizens
including goods from within the Islamic empire and some of
imported commodities from outside the empire.
The Importance of Farming
 Farming
remained an important way to make a living for
poorer citizens within the Islamic world. In addition to
farming, poorer citizens herded animals as another
means of getting income & food.
 Wealthy
land owners were also able to acquire large
areas of land on which they used slave labor to cultivate
the land.
Islamic Society

•
•
Though all Muslims were equal in the eyes of Allah, this did not stop a
clear social hierarchy that developed inside the Islamic Empire.
- Ruling Families, Senior officials, Nomadic elites, Merchants
- Poorer Muslims
- Non- Muslims
- Slaves (always non-Muslims)
Slaves were both male & female, and were always non Muslims since
the Quran forbids one Muslim to enslave another.
Slaves fought in wars & female slaves worked within the homes of the
wealthy.
The Role of Women
The Quran views men & women as equals. Women in the
Islamic world had some freedoms that other women in this time
period did not enjoy such as the right to inherit properly.
 Socially, Islam is a male dominated society were women always
needed a male guardian ( Father, Husband, Brother, etc.)
 Marriages were arranged by the parents of the 2 individuals.
Women could only marry once, where as men could have up
to 4 wives. Having to pay a dowry (a gift of $) to their new
brides.
 Although marriages were pre arranged, women had a right to
initiate a divorce under certain circumstances.

The Role of Women

Women usually wear something that covers up their bodies. More of
an older Arab tradition than a rule from Quran, many Muslim
women still wear this traditional clothing today.
- Hijab – Head scarf covers head & Neck.
- Chador – Covers full body, face exposed.
- Burka – Cover entire body including face.
Traditional Islamic Clothing for
Women
Burka
Hijab
Chador
The Culture of Islam: Philosophy,
Science, and History
 Translated
Greek Philosophy into
Arabic, works of Plato and Aristotle.
 The translations were put in a library
called the House of Wisdom in
Baghdad.
 Texts on mathematics were brought
to Baghdad from India.
Islamic Advancements

Ibn-Rushd (IH.buhn.RUSHT) wrote a commentary on virtually all of Aristotle’s
surviving works.

The Muslims passed on the numerical system of India, including the use of
zero. IN Europe it was known as the “Arabic System”.

9th century Arab mathematician developed algebra.

In astronomy, Muslims set up an observatory at Baghdad to study the position
of the stars. They also named many stars.

Perfected an instrument called the astrolabe, an instrument used by sailors to
determine their location by observing the positions of stars and heavenly
bodies.

Muslim scholars developed medicine as a field of scientific study.
 Ibn
Sina (IH. Bruhn SEE. Nuh) – wrote a
medical encyclopedia, it became a
medical textbook for university students in
medieval Europe.
 Ibn-Khaldun
– most prominent Muslim
historian of the age.
Literature, Art, and Architecture
 Islam
brought major changes to the culture of
Southwest Asia, including its literature.
 The

Arabian Nights
Aladdin and The Magic Lamp
 Islamic
art is a blend of Arab, Turkish, and Persian
traditions.
 Famous
for their well built mosques and Islamic castles
Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin Mosque
Video World Religions

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m6dCxo7t_aE