Muslim Achievement

Cultural Contributions

Copyright © Clara Kim 2007. All rights reserved.

Muslim Architecture

Cultural Blending• It is in Architecture that the greatest

cultural blending can be seen• Already existing buildings were modified

by Islamic Ideals• Islamic Features:

–Multi-lobed interwoven arches–Domes–Minarets–Large courtyards

Muslim Culture – Muslim Society

• Role of Women

• Women enjoy some rights but expected to submit to men

• Women’s responsibilities vary with husbands’ income

Muslim Culture – Muslim Scholarship Extends Knowledge

• Muslims Support Learning• Muslims use scientific knowledge to help fulfill

religious duties• Muhammad valued power of learning, study,

scholarship• Muslim scholars preserve and translate scientific,

philosophical texts• House of Wisdom—Bagdad institute: library, academy,

translation center

Muslim Culture – Art and Sciences Flourish

• Muslim Literature

• Qu’ran is standard for Arabic literature; praise for Muhammad, Islam

• Abbasid caliphate poets write of nature, life, and love

• Popular literature includes The Thousand and One Nights

Muslim Culture – Art and Sciences Flourish

• Muslim Art and Architecture

• Islam discourages images of living things, artists turn to calligraphy

• Calligraphy—art of beautiful handwriting

• Architecture of Muslim mosques is blend of many cultures

Muslim Culture – Art and Sciences Flourish

• Medical Advances

• Persian al-Razi is greatest physician, from 500 to 1500

• Al-Razi writes encyclopedia of medical knowledge

Muslim Culture – Art and Sciences Flourish

• Math and Science Stretch Horizons

• Muslim scientists solve problems through experimentation

• Al-Khwarizmi develops algebra and writes textbook

• Mathematician Ibn al-Haytham changes ideas about vision

Muslim Culture – Philosophy and Religion Blend Views

• Scholars Promote New Ideas

• Ibn Rushd is criticized for blending Greek philosophy with Islam

• Jewish philosopher Maimonides faces opposition for his ideas

• Blends philosophy, religion, science in The Guide for the Perplexed

Muslim Culture – Philosophy and Religion Blend Views

• The “Ideal Man”

• Muslims recognize values of many cultures; enjoy a blended culture

• Emerging Ottoman, Safavid, Mughal empires reflect Muslim culture

Multi-lobed interwoven arches

Domes

Dome of the Rock• Located in Jerusalem• Rock in the center is believed to be the spot from

where Muhammad ascended (rose) up to Heaven

Minarets• Towers built

from where Muslims are called to prayer 5 times a day

Large Courtyards

Mosaics• Artwork created

using tiny pieces of colored glass tiles

• Muslims use mosaics to create geometric decorations on Mosques

Arabic Alphabet• Arabic was first

used to translate the context of the Quran (The Holy Book of Islam)

• Written from Right to Left

• Made up of 28 letters

Calligraphy• Art of beautiful

handwriting• In Islam, showing

living things in art was not allowed

• So artists turned to calligraphy to express themselves.

• Turn to page 247 in books

Universities• Muhammad strongly believed in

the power of learning–This led to support of places of

learning by Muslim Leaders

• Qualified physicians = treat the sick

• Mathematicians and Astronomers = Calculated times for prayer

Muslim Achievement

Part 2

Scientific Contributions

Copyright © Clara Kim 2007. All rights reserved.

Math• Arabic Numbers were

adapted from India– Included the number

ZERO

• Led to study of optics which helped develop lenses for telescopes and microscopes

Medical Advances• The Comprehensive

Book – An encyclopedia of medicine using knowledge from Greek, Syrian, Arabic and Indian sources of knowledge

Science• Relied on

Scientific observation and experimentation

• Translated and studied Greek texts

Astrolabe?• Page 245 in Text

book• What is it?• What does it

measure?• What is it compared

to?• Describe this device.

Pictures Cited• Slide 2 – http://lloydi.com/travel-writing/turkey/wallpaper/blue-mosque-1x7.jpg

• Slide 4 – http://www.dkimages.com/discover/previews/772/551106.JPG

• Slide 5 – http://www.tomisimo.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2007/07/cordoba-mosque.jpg

• Slide 6 – http://taprobiz.com/pipeline/photo_contest/herit_mosquedome_hashirM.jpg, http://www.getreligion.org/wp-content/photos/Jameh_mosque_dome.JPG

• Slide 7 – http://www.blessingscornucopia.com/islammuslimislamicsunnahdomeoftherockjerusalem.jpg

• Slide 8 – http://witcombe.sbc.edu/sacredplaces/images/domeofrockint.jpg

• Slide 9 – http://www.efratnakash.com/galleries_l_pics/israel/jerusalem/11-0011.jpg

• Slide 10 – http://www.biblelieux.com/images/Dome_du_Rocher_vu_de_l_est,_tb042403.jpg

• Slide 11 – http://www.socwel.ku.edu/candagrant/Gallery/HFC-Thumbnail/Islam/Islamic%20Center%20of%20Greater%20Kansas%20City,%20Kansas%20City,%20MO,%2004,%20AK/Minaret%20and%20Dome.jpg

• Slide 12 – http://www.bbc.co.uk/birmingham/content/images/2005/01/17/minaret_gallery_352x470.jpg, http://www.nmazca.com/cairo/al-fath_mosque_minaret.jpg

• Slide 13 – http://ocw.mit.edu/ans7870/4/4.615/images/3/1009.jpeg

• Slide 14 – http://farm1.static.flickr.com/22/27024065_863da4a255.jpg

• Slide 15 – http://www.essential-architecture.com/STYLE/800px-Selimiye_Mosque%252C_Dome.jpg

• Slide 16 – http://l.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/travel/tg/lp/0d/500x500_0d8424b66f65b3bbb6f59c9b935356df.jpg

• Slide 17 – http://academic.brooklyn.cuny.edu/core9/phalsall/images/arabic1.jpg

• Slide 18 – http://www.islamicarchitecture.org/art/images/calligraphy/islamic.calligraphy9.gif, http://www.tate.org.uk/britain/exhibitions/eastwest/images/calligraphylion.jpg

• Slide 19 –http://creativebits.org/files/zoomorphic_calligraphy.jpg

Pictures Cited

• Slide 2 – http://www.departments.bucknell.edu/History/Carnegie/newton/telescope1.jpg

• Slide 3 – http://archive.nlm.nih.gov/hmd/fr/i14_120.gif• Slide 4 – Clipart 2007• Slide 5 – http://www.zakariya.net/images/gallery/fullsize/Aramco-

Astrolabe-Face.jpg