Muslim Civilization’s
Golden Age
Social and Economic Advances
Muslim leaders unite many
diverse cultures
Egyptians
Europeans
Arabs
Persians
Turks
Africans
Mongols
Indians
Southeast Asians
International Trade Network
built by the Muslims
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Merchants were honored
in the Muslim culture
They were seen as “God’s
trusted servants on Earth.”
Camel caravans crossed
the Sahara.
African, Muslim, Jewish
and Christian traders
traveled the Silk Road to
China
Trade
Spread products,
technology,
knowledge and
culture.
 Arabic numerals
became well
known and
helped the global
exchange grow
and thrive.
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New Business Practices for Muslims
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Created partnerships
Bought and sold on
credit
Formed banks for
exchange of currency
Invented bank checks
New system of
accounting
Highly valued manufactured goods
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Manufacturing organized by guilds
Regulated prices, methods of production and
the quality of the product.
Produced steel swords from Damascus
leather goods from Cordoba
cotton textiles from Egypt
carpets from Persia
Agriculture thrives
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Muslim leaders extended agricultural land.
Because of scarcity of water they had large
irrigation systems.
Grew crops for food, made medicinal herbs and
grew flowers to sell.
Social structure of the Muslims
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Muslims had social mobility
Could move up in social rank
by having religious, scholarly
and military achievements.
Muslims did not enslave other Muslims, but they
would put people in slavery from conquered
lands.
Slaves were mostly used as household servants.
Muslim Art, Literature and
Architecture
A blending of traditions of
the many people under
Muslim rule
Literature
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The greatest work of Islamic literature is the
Quran.
The Quran banned the worship of idols so
artists were not allowed to portray God/human
figures in religious art.
Poetry
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Poems encouraged the faithful to worship God
selflessly without hope of reward.
Persian Muslim writers
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Firdawsi- wrote Book of Kings which tells the
history of Persia.
Omar Khayyam- Muslim scholar, astronomer
and writer.
Later stories were about Aladdin and his Magic
Lamp and Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves.
Religious Buildings
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Mosques and minarets
dominated Muslim
cities
Dome of the Rock in
Jerusalem (688 AD)
decorated with
elaborate patterns.
Calligraphy is
perfected- art of
beautiful handwriting.
Muslims seek knowledge
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Boys and girls receive elementary education
which emphasized reading and writing
Needed so everyone could read the Quran.
Center of learning
Baghdad is the
greatest Muslim
center of learning.
 Advances in
philosophy, math
and medicine.
 They also translated
older texts into
Arabic.
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Philosopher- Ibn Rushd
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Put all knowledge, except the Quran, to the test
of reason.
His writings were translated into Latin and
would influence Christian scholars.
Arab thinker- Ibn Khaldun
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Set standards for the scientific study of history
He stressed that economics and social structure
were the causes of historical events.
Warned historians to watch for bias and
exaggeration.
Math
Al-Khwarizmipioneered algebra
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 The
original
Mr. K!!
Medicine
 Physicians
and pharmacists had
to pass tests to practice.
 Governments set up hospitals.
 Physicians traveled to the sick
and visited jails.
Muhammad al-Razi
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Head physician at Baghdad’s hospital.
Researched measles and smallpox.
Wanted doctors to “treat the mind as well as the
body.”
Persian physician- Ibn Sina
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Wrote an encyclopedia of what the Greeks,
Arabs and himself had learned about diagnosing
and treating diseases.
Book includes many prescriptions.