The Arab Empire

Pgs 292-299

Lesson 3

Caliphs Govern the Empire

• New Muslim leaders were called Caliphs.• “Caliph” mean successor (to Muhammad).• The ruled the caliphate:

Caliphs

• Religious, political, and military leaders.

• Goal: to expand Islam.• Trained holy armies of

Muslim soldiers to conquer other lands.

• Soldiers believed if they died in battle they would enter paradise.

Religious Tolerance

• Typically new Muslim leadership allowed Jews and Christians to practice their own religion.– Had to pay a higher tax

• Not required to become Muslim, if conquered.

• Many areas didn’t like the current leadership, so welcomed new Muslim rule.

Jerusalem

Growth of the Muslim Empire

• Within 100 years of Muhammad’s death, Islam had spread throughout the Mediterranean.

Africa & Spain

• Conquered the coast of Africa, then moved up into Spain.

• 711AD - Most of Spain was taken.• Western capital was Cordoba.

– Center of culture.– 500,000 population– 3,000 mosques– 600 year rule

• Muslim army was defeated in France.– Charles Martel defeats the Muslims in Tours, France.

Cordoba

India

• Conquered parts of India.

• Did not try to convert the Hindus.– Lived peacefully for

many years.

Baghdad

• In 762 AD, Caliph al-Mansur builds a capital city on the Tigris river.

• For 500 years, Baghdad is the capital for the Muslim Caliphate.

• One of the world’s largest cities.– One million – population– Center of innovation and learning– Library called “the House of Wisdom”

• 4 main roads led to all the ends of the empire– Largest trading community– Specialized in goods from all over the empire.

The House of Wisdom

Baghdad

Paper-making• 751AD – Muslims adopted

the Chinese practice of making paper.

• Used extensively throughout the empire.– Aids learning– Cheaper and better for

book-making than parchment or papyrus.

• Ream = Arabic for bundle

• http://www.islamicspain.tv/Islamic-Spain/Making_Paper.gif

Learning in the Muslim Empire

• Muslims value ideas, education and learning.

• Scholars were encouraged to preserve all notable works from around the world.

Knowledge Transfers

• Scholars translated ancient Greek, Roman, Indian, Hebrew and Chinese writings into Arabic – and then learned from them.

• Muslim academics made improvements on the ideas they learned from reading.

Baghdad Library

• Ordinary people could read books in public libraries.

• 36 public libraries in Baghdad!

Medicine of Islam• Developed hospitals &

pharmacies.• Doctors had to pass tests.• No fee to be treated.• Traveling hospitals moved

around the empire.• Muhammad al Razi –

“Rhazes” wrote a huge medical encyclopedia to teach doctors how to treat illnesses.

• Iben Sinah “Avicenna” wrote a medical text used for 600 years.– Germs, stress, & surgery

Mathemathics

• Studied the ancient Greeks.

• Adopted number from India.

• Algebra was developed by Muslim math scholars.

Astronomy

• Islamic calendar is based on the moon’s movement.

• Perfected the astrolabe to aid in navigation.

Art• No religious pictures may have human or animal forms on them.

• Worked with abstract designs– Arabesques may be

geometric or flowing, leafy designs

– Calligraphy, or beautiful handwriting, was used to write Arabic words.

Architecture

• Many beautiful mosques were built.

• Minarets are the tall towers used to call the faithful to prayer.

• Domes were used.

Literature

• Quran was the greatest book of all.

• Poetry was popular.• Folk-tales, such as

Arabian Nights, were told.– Ali Baba & the Forty

Thieves.– Aladdin– Sinbad the Sailor