An Age of Learning and Artistic RefinementChapter 7 (2 of 4)

As the Abbasid

empire was experiencing

political turmoil and

losing power…

Trade was flourishing within the

empire (did well under Umayyad,

but took off under

Abbasid)

Forms of Art:

Bronze

TapestriesMosques

RugsCeramic

Advancements in Literature

Persian began

replacing Arabic as

main language in literature

3 Important writers during the Abbasid caliphate:

1)Firdawsi

2)Sa’di

3)Omar Khayyam

Firdawsi – Persian (Iran) writer, real name unknown

Wrote Shah-Nama (Book of Kings) in late

10th to early 11th centuries

Shows Persian pride as they became more

independent of Abbasids

Sa’di

Poet who blended mysticism with every

day life

Most Muslim literature at the time

did this

Best known work of Persian literature to

the West

Searches for the meaning of life

Click to see more on Omar Khayyam

Advancements in Math and Science

Early on, not many advancements, just preserved classic learning.Later on, Muslims make significant strides.

Advancements in ChemistryCreated the

objective experiment

Al-Razi’s classification

system of things into 1 of

3 categories:- Animal

- Vegetable- Mineral

Al Biruni calcualted

specific weights of 18

minerals

Advancements in Astronomy

Improved astrolabe and armillary sphere to map stars

Renamed and reorganized constellationsEuropeans and Chinese wanted Muslim maps of the starsDeveloped many astronomy tools

Advancements Had Practical Applications

Cairo and other cities had best hospitals inworld (had to pass exam to be doctor)

Scientists worked on optics andbladder ailments

Muslim traders introduced

papermaking and silk-weaving

For more on Muslim advancements, click here

A Resurgence of Religious SpiritUlama

Orthodox Muslim leaders (were hostile to non-

Muslims)

Al-Ghazali

Muslim theologian, combined Greek and

Muslim traditions (rejected by Ulama)

Sufis

Muslim mystics who played key role in spreading Islam

Mongols Take Empire

As Abbasids being divided from within, Mongols come and take over

Grandson of Chinggis Khan

1258 – Mongols took Baghdad, killed 37th

and final Abbasid caliph, and control

Muslim empire

Mongols kept capturing westward

until stopped by Mameluks

Baghdad destroyed, shrunk from one of

greatest cities in world (Cairo and Istanbul

replace it)

Mameluks = Turkic slaves, controlled

Egypt

Hulegu

Click here for movie on Mongol defeat in Egypt (start at 48:47)