World Cultures

1. World Cultures Islamic Contributions

2. SLOS/Objectives • Use knowledge of global events and trends since 1500 to shed light on contemporary issues. • Interpret historical knowledge to extend comprehension of world cultures • Distinguish the characteristics of the worlds major civilizations and discuss their enduring influences • Analyze cause-and-effect relationships in history, including variables such as the “great person”, technological change, outside influences and demographic change

3. Contributions of Islamic Culture architects designed buildings that defied gravity. mathematicians created the algebra and algorithms that would enable the building of computers, and the creation of encryption. doctors examined the human body, and found new cures for disease. astronomers looked into the heavens, named the stars, and paved the way for space travel and exploration.

4. The basis of the study of optics can be attributed directly to the Muslims. Al-Hassen bin Al-Haythem is considered the founder of this field. He and Al-Beirouni also logically came to the conclusion, in disagreement with Aristotle, that the speed of light is constant and that light is composed of extremely small particles moving at extremely high speeds, which is the basis of the quantum nature of light, an endlessly celebrated tribute to 20th century science

5. . Muhammad bin Mousa Al-Khawarizmi is considered the founder of modern algebra • Ghiath Edden Al-Kashi, approximated pi to 16 places past the decimal point. • The system know as Pascal’s triangle, which assists in factoring equations in the form of (a + b)n, was developed by Al-Karkhi, and not Louis Pascal. • Later Muslim mathematicians were able to factor equations as complex as fourth degree equations; fifth degree equations are impossible to factor • The contribution of Muslim mathematicians to algebra is integral to the development of all sciences as mathematics is frequently referred to as the language of science.

6. Ibn Sina’s text the Canon of Medicine, was used as a text in Europe for centuries later, and its popularity dwarfed the books of Galen and Hippocrates. • Physicians like Abul Qasim al-Zahrawi, Ibn Sina, and Ali Abbas, wrote texts on surgery that would form the foundations of Western Surgery

7. Ibn Battuta was the only medieval traveler who is known to have visited the lands of every Muslim ruler of his time. He also traveled in Ceylon (Sri Lanka), China, Byzantium and Russia. The mere extent of his travels is estimated at over 75,000 miles • The famous traveler Ibn Battuta lived by the motto - 'never, if possible, cover any road a second time'. Fifty years earlier than Marco Polo, he traveled, on horse, camel, foot and boat, through all manner of lands, including West Africa where he visited Timbuktu, Mali and Niger. • His interest was not only confined to geography. He vividly described the prevailing political, economic and social conditions, the position of women and religious matters. He was appointed Qadi (Chief judge) of Delhi, and spent the last twenty-three years of his life as Qadi of Fez, Morocco, writing his comprehensive travel document.

8. Ibn Battuta started on his travels when he was 21 years old in 1325. His main reason to travel was to go on a Hajj, or the Pilgrimage to Makkah (Mecca), as all Muslims are instructed to do. But his traveling went on for about 29 years and he covered about 75,000 miles visiting the equivalent of 44 modern countries. • He met many dangers and had many adventures along the way. He was attacked by bandits, almost drowned in a sinking ship and was almost beheaded by a tyrant ruler on his travels! • Near the end of Ibn Battuta's own life, the Sultan of Morocco insisted that Ibn Battuta dictate the story of his travels to a scholar and today we can read translations of that story called "Rihla - My Travels". It is a valuable and interesting record of places which add to our understanding of the Middle Ages.