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Persian and Arabic
Literature
By
Andrew C. Jackson
Historical Highlights (566)

Pre-Islamic Persia
– Aryans established
 Became known as Persia
– Iran
 “land of the Aryans”
– Alexander the Great
 Conquered Persia
H.H.

Arabs and the Rise of Islam
– Abraham
 Arabs descended from him (traditionally)
– Mecca
 Part of trade route
– Muhammad
 Founder of Islam (born in 570)
– Islam
 “submission to Allah’s will”
H.H.

A Persian Rebirth
– Persia thrives in many ways
People and Society (568)

Nomads
– “wanderers” known as Bedouins

Ruling Class
– Theocracy (government by religious authority)
 Emirs (princes)
 Sultans (rulers)
 Shahs (kings)
– Helped by viziers (chief ministers)

Lower classes
– Ok if they paid tax and did not promote their own
religions
– Helped by Muhammad’s perspective of helping the
poor
P and S

Merchants and traders
– Bazaars
– Increasingly wealthy

The Learned Class
– Scholars, scientists, writers, artists
 Highly respected

Islamic Mystics
– Dervishes (mystic monks)

Women
– Were treated better then
Arts and culture (570)

Islamic Architecture
– Mosques (houses of worship)
 Minaret (high tower or beacon)
 Muezzin
– Crier calls for prayer 5xday
A and C (cont.)

Scholarship and Science
– Emphasis on study and learning
 House of Wisdom
A and C (cont.)

Literature
– Pre-Islamic
 Mainly oral
– Post-Islam
 More put into writing
 Koran
– Islam’s sacred book (653 A.D.)

Decorative arts (limited because of Islam)
– Swords
– Carpets
– Persian miniatures
Connect to Today (574-75)
Modern banking
 Mail system
 Surgery
 Mathematics
 Astronomy
 Language
 Pants (J.D.)

Here endeth the lesson

Andrew C. Jackson, 2007