A Quick Glance of Muslim Contributions

Astronomy

• Astrolabes were commonly used to locate the city of Mecca

• Wanted to learn more about the universe• Realized the Earth rotated on an axis• Began to question that the earth was the

center of the universe

Baghdad

• Abbasid Capital• “ A City with no equal in the world”• Cross road of trade routes• 100,000 architects, workers and craftsman

built the city over four years

Calligraphy

• Round letters and cursive writing, in which the script flows and letters within words are connected

• Art of beautiful handwriting• Used as writing worthy in the Quran• Used in the decoration of everyday items

Chess

• Invented in India• Persians introduced the game to the Muslim

world in the mid 600s• Chess spread throughout the Muslim lands

and introduced this game of wits to Europe

Geography and Navigation

• Realized that the world was round• Divided the world into different time zones• Calculated the circumference of the Earth

within 9 miles• Enhanced the accuracy of maps for trade• Adapted and perfected the compass and

astrolabe

Geometric and Floral Design

• Arabesque art used the beauty from the natural world such as stems, leaves, flowers

• Artists used geometric shapes in their designs• Circles, triangles, squares and hexagons had

special meanings

Irrigation and wells

• Made the most out of scarce resources• Restored old irrigations systems and built new

ones• Built dams, aqueducts, and underground wells• Used water wheels

Bookmaking and Literature

• Learned the Art of bookmaking from the Chinese

• Bookmaking became an art form• Illuminated bindings and pages with designs in

gold along with paintings• Encouraged the growth of Muslim literature of

rich storytelling and poetry• Literature

Mathematics

• Advanced the study of Math• Based their work on ideas from India and

Greece• Al-Khwarizmi father of algebra in 9th century• Arabic numerals• Spred the Indian concept of zero

Medicine

• Enhanced knowledge from the Greeks, Egyptians and Mesopotamians

• Established the first hospitals• Discovered infections were caused by bacteria• Studied smallpox and measles• Created the first medical texts

Mosques

• Muslim house of worship• Created distinctive form of architecture• Many design styles and materials went into

building mosques reflecting diversity of Muslim lands

• Expressed the faith and artistic heritage of the their builders

Music

• Central part of culture• Zirab talented Musician and singer• Established the first music conservatory in

Cordoba Spain• Musicians and poets worked together to

create songs of love, nature and glory of the Empire

Polo

• Learned from the Persians• Became popular among the wealthy• Adapted and refined the game

Scholarship and learning

• Highly valued• Arabic became the language of scholarship

and science• Rulers built schools, colleges, libraries and

other centers of learning• Scholars studied the works of the great

philosophers Plato and Aristotle

textiles

• Great manufactures of cloths and textiles• Brought artistry to clothing• Weavers wove wool, linen, silk and cotton into

cloth• Clothing displayed ranking and served as a

status symbol

Zoology

• Books were written describing the structure of animals bodies

• Developed how to make medicines from animals

• Established zoological gardens or zoos where exotic animals were displayed

Did you miss anything?

• How does quick recap compare to your notes?