Contributions of the Islamic Empire

Architecture The most important

contribution is the mosque

Mosques are the center of the worship

Many were converted Christian churches

Calligraphy Greek for “beautiful

writing” Considered the highest

form of Art Believed that Allah used

the Arabic language to recite the Qur’an to Muhammad

Calligraphy adorned architecture, art, coins, jewelry, textiles, weapons, tools, paintings, and manuscrips

Painting Discouraged use of

pictorial images Opted for calligraphy

and geometric shapes If used pictures they

were secular (non-religious)

Example- human body in a medical book

Carpet Carpet weaving

was unique and artistic

Highly valued in the West

Introduced by Italian merchants

Medicine Pioneered practice of

diagnosis, cure, and future prevention

First hospital in Islamic world was in Damascus in 707

Hygiene was emphasized

Open 24 hours a day Al Razi diagnosed

chickenpox

Strides in Medicine Treatments for

smallpox and measles

Observations made in hay fever, kidney stones, and scabies

First to use opium as an anesthetic

Discovered tuberculosis

Astronomy Muslim calendar was

based on lunar calendar Wanted to predict the

arrival of the new moon to mark a month

Map the coordinates of the stars

Estimated the Earth’s atmosphere within 2 km

Astrolabe invented which was used until telescope

Mathematics Introduced algebra Arabic numerals were

introduced to Eurpe Algorithms Developed

trigonometry First to use concept of

sines and cotangents Developed early form

of calculus

Philosophy Argument over philosophy and theology Arguments over faith versus reason

Sources of Images used Architecture

http://www.fotocommunity.com/pc/pc/display/19156061

Calligraphy http://

www.fotopedia.com/items/flickr-3296333267

Atrolabe www.muslimmuse

um.org

Art http://

www.fotopedia.com/items/flickr-3802478172

Carpet http://

www.nga.gov/exhibitions/2004/artexchange/artexchange_ss.htm

Medicine Med.wayne.edu