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A Muslim Caliphate Pages 272-277 Objectives • Describe the caliphate (KAY luh fayt) established and headquartered at Baghdad • Identify contributions of Islamic civilization to the world Muslim ruler al-Mansur • 700 A.D., decided to build a city along the Tigris River in presentday Iraq (Baghdad) • The city quickly became the center of the Muslim civilization’s greatest achievements in science, art, and architecture Art & Architecture Muslim Rule • By 700s A.D., Islam was just over 100 years old: it had changed a lot • Caliphs were chosen to govern the land – what does “caliph” mean? • Successor to the Prophet • Lands ruled by the caliph were called the caliphate The Caliphate • Expanded into western Asia and North Africa • Many places converted to Islam • Other places did not convert, but learned Arabic • What tied the Muslim caliphate together? • The rule of Muslim law and leadership; the Arabic language Baghdad • Center of city was caliph’s domed palace • Next to palace rose a great mosque – What is a mosque? • A place of worship where Muslims go for daily prayers • City became a center of international trade – four main roads went to all parts of the caliphate Baghdad Today International Trade in Baghdad • • • • • Arabian perfume Indian pepper African ivory Russian furs Chinese dishware • Over one million people lived in Baghdad! How would you compare the imperial capital of Rome at its height to Baghdad? • • • • • • Large populations Crowding Magnificent buildings Destination of roads Trade goods available Status as world cities ROME VS. BAGHDAD Books in Ancient Baghdad • Baghdad’s new paper mill made it possible to create many books • Muhammad was said to have declared, “He who travels in search of knowledge, travels along Allah’s path of paradise.” • The caliphs preserved Greek, Roman, and Indian works translated into Arabic on a huge library called the House of Wisdom • Arab scholars read this books on history, science, law, and mathematics BAGHDAD’S HOUSE OF WISDOM How did Muhammad’s declaration send the Muslims on a worldwide quest for knowledge? • It sent them off to gather knowledge from other parts of the world and to build on it Advances in Medicine • Muslim doctors translated Greek medical texts • A famous Muslim doctor named Ibn Sina (or Avicenna in Latin) described how diseases spread through air and water • Baghdad had many doctors, including “moving hospitals” that would give treatment to people who lived far away Advances in Math and Science • We use the Arabic number system today • Added greatly to the field of algebra • Studied astronomy – the Muslim calendar is based on the moon’s movement • Muslims improved the Greek astrolabe to figure out the position of the stars What was the astrolabe? How might its development help later explorers, like Columbus? • The ability to use star positions to find one’s location would give future explorers a means to strike out over ever greater distances across Earth Places of Worship: Mosques • Mosques had to follow standards: • Had to make sure they faced Mecca • Needed tall towers so that leaders could call people to prayer • Needed walled-in courtyards to hold hundreds of worshipers Why do you think that architects strive for beauty when they build places of worship? • Perhaps because they wanted to show great honor for the deity worshiped and to elevate worshipers’ minds and hearts Dome of the Rock • Oldest Muslim monument still standing • Built in 691 A.D. • Honors the place where Muslims believe Muhammad ascended into heaven Literature and Music • Poetry was well-loved among the people of Baghdad • Folktales were also very popular • Favorites were collected into a book called “The Arabian Nights” – the tale of Aladdin and his lamp is one the stories Why do you suppose that collections like The Arabian Nights became long-lived favorites of Islamic literature? • A love story is basic to human nature Summing it Up • Under the caliphs who came after Muhammad, Islam spread into Asia, Africa, and Europe • The caliphate furthered learning in medicine, math, and astronomy • Mosques were centers of Muslim worship throughout the caliphate and remain religious centers today Think About It • Which of Baghdad’s trade goods came from other regions? • Indian pepper, African ivory, Russian furs, Chinese dishware and silk • What were some of the achievements of the Muslim caliphate in medicine? • Discovering that disease can spread through air and water • In what ways did Islam influence life in the city of Baghdad? • It made Baghdad a city of magnificent mosques and it focused the citizenry on living by the Five Pillars • Based on your study of the geography of Mesopotamia, make a conclusion about the dangers of building Baghdad on the Tigris River. • Destructive flooding