Arabic and Persian

Literature A taste of the Middle East

Why is this study important?

• 7th Century Islam expanded from Persia and Arabia (Modern day Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq, Oman, Jordan, Syria, Yemen, Israel, Pakistan, Afghanistan)

• Islam is a powerful and misunderstood culture

• Islam brought modern mail service, banking, astronomy, navigation, medicine, math, and literature across Africa and Europe.

Pre-Islamic Influence of Persia1000 BC-642 AD

• Nomadic people

• Zoroaster founder of Persian religion (Zoroastrianism)

• Military Power Cyrus the Great (showed mercy, an example of Zoroastrianism influence)

• Cambyses II expanded Persia

• Darius I introduced roads, coinage, and weights to promote trade

• 490 BC Greeks Battle of Marathon

• 331 BC Alexander the Great

• 224 BC Persia regains power

• 651 AD Arabs defeat Persia Islam is introduced

Spread of Islam

• Persians: Established major center of Islamic learning: Famous Poets Ferdowsi, Omar Khayyam, Rumi, Sadi

• Arabs: Nomadic people (camel herders), spread Islam all the way to Spain

• Mecca established

• Persian Culture looses influence

Arabic Traditions: After 570 AD

• Abraham

• Desert nomads farmers and traders

• Oases

• Prophet Muhammad: Angel Gabriel

• Islam: “submission to Allah’s will”

• 640 AD Allegiance

• Caliphs

• Abbasid Dynasty: 762-1258 (Baghdad)

Persia and the Islamic Empire

• The Samanids Islamic renaissance Bukhara

The People of Islam

• Nomads Bedouins warriors

• Rulers break of theocracy emits, Sultans, Shahs

• Lower class taxed for not being Muslim, no slavery

• Merchants/traders bazaars

• Educated House of Wisdom (Caliph al Ma’mum

• Mystics dervishes or fakirs (Sufism)

• Women their rights improved (equals in the eyes of Allah)

Literature

Pre-Islamic: oral traditions

elaborate odes (qasidas)

Avesta

Islamic Influence: Koran

Sufism poetry

Golden Age (753 AD)

Encouraged great works of art