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Islamic Civilization. Islamic traders linked Af., Euro., & Asia Muslims absorbed culture from others Math from India; Technology from China Cultural umbrella (common religion & language). I. Cultural Diffusion. Islam combined & spread cultures: 1. geographic location
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Islamic traders linked Af., Euro., & Asia • Muslims absorbed culture from others • Math from India; Technology from China • Cultural umbrella (common religion & language)
I. Cultural Diffusion • Islam combined & spread cultures: • 1. geographic location • 2. character of Islamic religion • a. tolerated other religions • b. made pilgrimages to Mecca • c. had to learn Arabic • d. valued trade
A. Religious Toleration • Other faiths lived w/out persecution & contributed their culture to society • Christians & Jews were employed by the govt.
B. The Pilgrimage • The hajj brought people together (cultures blend) • Exchanged ideas & learned about other ways of life • Hajji – title earned after making the hajj • Carried ideas back to native lands
C. The Arabic Language • Qur’an = Arabic • Official language of religion & govt. • Aided in cultural diffusion • Euros?
D. Muslim Trade • Islamic civ. = trading activity • Controlled the Med. Sea & Indian Ocean • From China = spices, silk, & paper • From India = coconuts, tin, rubies, spices, tropical woods • Muslims acted as “middle man” betw. East & West
II. Muslim Scholarship • Many excellent scholars • “The ink of the scholar is holier than the blood of the martyr.” (Muhammad) • 476: Rome fell (Islam preserved knowledge) • Scholars collected & translated scientific & philosophical texts • 800s: Caliph al-Ma’mun – House of Wisdom • Combination library, academy, & translation center
A. Muslim Literature • Literature started w/Bedouins • Qur’an = standard for all Arabic lit. & poetry • Sang praises of the Prophet & of Islam • The Thousand and One Nights • King Shahryar – married & murdered wives • Scheherezade – began stories, never finished them • After 1001 nights – Shahryar allowed her to live • Collection of fairytales of Arabic, Egyptian, Indian, E. Asian, & Persian origin = A Thousand Tales
B. Muslim Art & Architecture • Muslims adapted others’ architecture to suit Islamic beliefs & practices • Ex. Only Allah can create life, thus, no images of living beings • Calligraphy • Arabesque (detailed geometric patterns) • Architecture = major Islamic artform • Mosques
Textiles • silk “taftah” (Persian) became taffeta (Euro.) • Wool carpets (Persian, Egyptian, Turkish)
C. Music • “the devil’s call to damnation” • Important part of ordinary life • 7th cent.—Tways created Islamic music • Later influenced music in Spain & the Americas
D. Medical Advances • al-Razi (Persian scholar) –greatest physician • Comprehensive Book (medical encyclopedia) • Treatise on Smallpox & Measles (infectious diseases) • Introduced use of animal gut for stitches • Treated diseases of the eyes (cataracts) • Borrowed from Greeks, Indians, & others • Discovered healing drugs & ointments • First school of pharmacy
E. Math & Science • Mathematics = basis of all knowledge • al-Khwarizimi • Mathematician (late 700s) • Studied Indian sources • Wrote textbook explaining “the art of bringing together unknowns to match a known quantity” • “al-jabr” (algebra) • Astronomy • Ibn al-Haytham – wrote “Optics” –revolutionized ideas about vision
Muslims learned decimal system from India • “Arabic numerals”
the Ka’aba • 35’ X 40’, and 50’ • Built by Abraham & Ishmael • Black embroidered cloth • S.E. corner = sacred black stone • From heaven • Gabriel gave to Abraham • White? • Replica of the House of God in the 7th heaven • Heaven = 7 levels • Hell = 7 levels (punishment fits the sin)