1. Dar al Islam
Culture of Islam: Community,
Religion of Salvation, Religious
and Trade Empire

2. Seal of the Prophets
CaliphCaliph –
“deputy”
DamascusDamascus
Abu BakrAbu Bakr – 1st
Caliph
• Close friend & disciple
• Meccan merchant
Umayyad Mosque, Damascus

3. Umayyad DynastyUmayyad Dynasty::
Spread of Dar al-IslamSpread of Dar al-Islam
- Religion
- Law
- Rule of Caliphs
- Society NOT based on
tribes, clans
Successful because:
• FAST spread!FAST spread!
• Zeal of new converts.
• Byzantine & Sassanid empires at war w/ each
other  weakened defenses.
• Overtaxed peasants wanted relief

4. Umayyad CaliphateUmayyad Caliphate

5. Umayadd Dynasty:
• Standardization:Standardization:
– CoinageCoinage
– ArabicArabic – official language
– ShariaSharia
• JizyaJizya– head tax paid by conquered
subjects who did not convert to Islam.
• TolerationToleration of other religions,
especially “religions of the book”

6. Division of Islam:Division of Islam: Shia AliShia Ali
Ali:
•Cousin & son-in-law
•4th
caliph: 656-661 CE
•Assassinated
•Over time: distinct doctrines,
traditions, holidays…
•Revolts hastened the
fall of the Umayadd Dynasty
How will Muhammad’s successor be chosen?How will Muhammad’s successor be chosen?
Blood line of the Prophet? Election byBlood line of the Prophet? Election by UmmaUmma leaders?leaders?

7. ABBASIDABBASID
CaliphateCaliphate

8. Abbasid Dynasty:Abbasid Dynasty: BaghdadBaghdad
750 – 1258 CE
ADMINISTRATIONADMINISTRATION
Spiritual and political integration:Spiritual and political integration:
UlamaUlama – religious scholars
QadiQadi – religious judges
CaliphsCaliphs -- ruled w/ standing army
GovernorsGovernors –>Sultans after Abbasid

9. Golden Age of IslamGolden Age of Islam
• BaghdadBaghdad
• Rivaled
Constantinople
• 500,000
inhabitants

10. Cosmopolitan BaghdadCosmopolitan Baghdad“Baghdad was a veritable City of Palaces, not made
of stucco and mortar, but of marble. The buildings
were of several stories. The palaces and mansions
were lavishly gilded and decorated, and hung with
beautiful tapestry …of brocade or silk. The rooms were
lightly and tastefully furnished with luxurious divans,
costly tables, unique Chinese vases and gold and silver
ornaments.
Both sides of the river were for miles fronted by the
Palaces, kiosks, gardens and parks of the grandees
and nobles, marble steps led down to the water's edge,
and the scene on the river was animated by thousands
of gondolas, decked with little flags, dancing like
sunbeams on the water, and carrying the pleasure-
seeking Baghdad citizens from one part of the city to
the other. Along the wide-stretching docks lay whole
fleets at anchor, sea and river craft of all kinds, from
the Chinese junk to the old Assyrian raft resting on
inflated skins.
The mosques of the city were at once vast in size and
remarkably beautiful. There were also numerous
colleges of learning, hospitals, infirmaries for both
sexes, and lunatic asylums.”
From: Medieval Sourcebook,
Fordham University – Yakut,
c. 1000 CE
Half Million Inhabitants

11. EconomyEconomy
AgricultureAgriculture - Transplanted- Transplanted
crops throughout empire:crops throughout empire:
A. Food crops - Spread
– Sugarcane, RiceSugarcane, Rice
– New grain varieties -sorghum & wheat
– Spinach, artichoke, eggplant, orange,
lemon, lime, banana, coconut,
watermelon, mango
– Effect: richer more varied diet, more
food, population & life span increased
B. Industrial crops – Textiles
– CottonCotton,
– Indigo & henna dyes
– Effect: thriving textile industry
throughout Dar al-Islam

13. 2.2. IndustryIndustry
• PAPER!PAPER!
• Textiles
• Pottery, Glassware
• Leather
• Iron … steel

14. Engineered New IndustrialEngineered New Industrial
TechnologiesTechnologies
• WindmillWindmill
• NoriaNoria
• Water ClockWater Clock
• RocketsRockets
• Water drillingWater drilling

15. MORE TECHNOLOGIESMORE TECHNOLOGIES
• New techniques:
– Metallurgy (including early steel production),
Ceramics, CartographyCartography, Building,
Weaving, Measurement
• Agriculture:
– GraftingGrafting trees, hybridizinghybridizing, stopping blights
& insects, making perfume
–Earliest Mechanized Sugar Refineries

16. 3.3. LUXURY TradeLUXURY Trade
• Aromatic Resins
– Perfumes, cosmetics,
Frankincense & Myrrh…
• Luxury fruits: fresh / dried
• Textiles
– Cotton, Persian Carpets
• Jewelry
– Gold, Silver mined near Mecca

17. Created a Hemispheric TradingCreated a Hemispheric Trading
Zone!!Zone!!
• Muhammad – merchant
“Honest merchants will stand alongside martyrs to the faith on the
day of judgment.”
CaravanCaravan
CaravanseraiCaravanserai

18. Elaborate Trade Networks LinkedElaborate Trade Networks Linked
Dar al-Islam with theDar al-Islam with the WorldWorld
A.A. Overland Travel:Overland Travel:
• SILK ROADSSILK ROADS
• Maintained Indian, Persian,Indian, Persian,
RomanRoman ROADSROADS
Persian Royal Road
Cartography
Travel Tales

19. B.B. Maritime TravelMaritime Travel
• Chinese compass,Chinese compass,
paper, mapspaper, maps
• Lateen SailLateen Sail
• DHOWDHOW
• AstrolabeAstrolabe
–– Calculate latitudeCalculate latitude

20. Astrolabe
Mariner’s Ring- latitude at noon
or compared to a star of known
declination
Land- time, latitude, direction, horoscopes

21. Sea Trade by 1400 CESea Trade by 1400 CE

22. Important Trade CommoditiesImportant Trade Commodities
Import
• China
– Silk & Porcelain
• India
– spices & aromatics
• Byzantine Empire
– Jewelry & Byzantine silk
• East Africa
– slaves, animal skins,
ivory
• Russia & Scandinavia
– Fur, honey, amber,
slaves, timber, livestock
Export
• East Africa - Salt
• All locations: textiles
– Cotton, brocade
(Damascene), Carpets…
• Jewelry

23. 4.4. BankingBanking
• Investment Brokers &
Business Loans
• Currency exchange
(Dinar)
• Multiple branches
• SakkSakk – letters of credit /
“checks”
• Joint ventures - reduce
risk

24. Decline of Abbasid Dynasty
• SultansSultans – kept taxes …– kept taxes …
secededseceded
• Popular uprisings & peasant
rebellions
• Dissenting sectsDissenting sects, heretical, heretical
movementsmovements
Abbasid Emperors  mere
figureheads
Turkic Saljuq Sultans ruled
for 200 years and then…
Mongols: 1258Mongols: 1258

25. 5. Culture: Golden Age of5. Culture: Golden Age of
IslamIslam
• Arts, architecture, literature, sciences flourished
during Abbasid
• AND were
passed on to
other societies,
including
WESTERN
EUROPE!!!

26. Finely crafted and decorated pottery and metallurgy, scrolls and books – Qu’rans.
Fine Artisan
Work

27. Ivory camphor canister
Inlaid Scribe’s box
Carved Marble
Capital

28. Persian MiniaturesPersian Miniatures
-Atelier produced & inspected
-Symbolic, not representations
of “individuals”
-Flat, unnatural colors
-Books: Histories of Sultan’s Rule
locked away for the sultan…

29. Culture of Books & LearningCulture of Books & Learning
• 751 CE-751 CE- PaperPaper from Chinafrom China  “Translation Movement”“Translation Movement”
• Built Learning Infrastructure:Built Learning Infrastructure:
– public and private libraries,public and private libraries,
–MadrasasMadrasas – Islamic Universities attached to– Islamic Universities attached to
mosques in all Major citiesmosques in all Major cities
– Hospitals & Research institutionsHospitals & Research institutions
– Scholars from all over Dar al-Islam came study at the feet of aScholars from all over Dar al-Islam came study at the feet of a
famous professor.famous professor.
• Transfer of Greek philosophy & learningTransfer of Greek philosophy & learning
– Logic & Reason ….classicsLogic & Reason ….classics
• Religious tolerationReligious toleration
– Universities in Al-AndaluzUniversities in Al-Andaluz
taught in Arabic, Latin, Hebrew…taught in Arabic, Latin, Hebrew…

30. AstronomyAstronomy
• Calendars
• Precision
Astronomical
Instruments
• Water Clock
• Many astronomical
terms
– Nadir, zenith,
azimuth…
– Zodiac symbols
(Scorpion)
Al- Biruni
973-1048
-Radius of Earth
-Astronomer
-Cartographer

31. MedicineMedicine
• Code of conduct for doctors
– Examinations for doctors & pharmacologists –
Ethics, knowledge
– Hippocratic Oath – violation  dismissal
• HospitalsHospitals
– Running water, baths: Sanitation
– Sections for different treatment, diseases- hay
fever, measles, smallpox, diphtheria, rabies,
diabetes…
– SpecialistsSpecialists
– Open 24 hours - Could not turn away a patient
– SurgerySurgery with precise medical instruments –
tumors, ophthalmic & dental surgery including
fillings, amputations…
– BooksBooks – massive medical encyclopedia
Al Razi (865-925)Al Razi (865-925)
Medical encyclopedia drawing on Greek, Syrian, Indian, Persian & his own workMedical encyclopedia drawing on Greek, Syrian, Indian, Persian & his own work

32. Pages from Medical Texts
Aristotle, Galen, Plato and an Abbasid
doctor depicted on Medical Codex.
Inscription: 'These are the wise who
know God: He is the wise the healer'

33. GeographyGeography
“Books of Routes” for postal
carriers
• CartographyCartography – map making
– integration of mathematics, art,
necessities of trade…
• Travel WritingTravel Writing
–Ibn BattutaIbn Battuta – qadi –
– Highlights: North Africa, Mecca &
Medina, sailed down the Nile,
Constantinople, India & China. He died
in Granada at 73.

34. Social SciencesSocial Sciences
Ibn KhaldunIbn Khaldun - historian
• Analyzed: Rise & fall
of civilizations
• Analyzed: relations
betw technologically
advanced &
traditional societies.
Ibn RushdeIbn Rushde – “Averroes”– “Averroes”
Ibn SinaIbn Sina – “Avicenna”– “Avicenna”
• Integrated Aristotelian &
Islamic Thought
• Translated into Latin 
affected W. Philosophy

35. Al-GhazaliAl-Ghazali
• SufiSufi theologian:theologian:
–AgainstAgainst
Philosophy &Philosophy &
ScienceScience
• “Human reason cannot
grasp the power that is
Allah!”

36. Rumi“You were born with wings;
why do you crawl through
life?”
“When you do things from
your soul, you feel a river
moving in you, a joy.”
“The wound is the place
where the light enters you.”
“There is a candle in your
heart, ready to be kindled.
There is a void in your soul,
ready to be filled.
You feel it, don't you?”
““Knock, And He'llKnock, And He'll
open the door.open the door.
Vanish, And He'llVanish, And He'll
make you shinemake you shine
like the sun.like the sun.
Fall, And He'llFall, And He'll
raise you to theraise you to the
heavens.heavens.
Become nothing,Become nothing,

37. Polymath ScholarsPolymath Scholars
““RenaissanceRenaissance
Men,”Men,”
not justnot just
specialistsspecialists
What other societies, times, placesWhat other societies, times, places
valued this type of ability?valued this type of ability?
What does this SAY about a society?What does this SAY about a society?

38. MathMath
• Algorithms & Algebra!Algorithms & Algebra!
• Trigonometric functions (except sine)Trigonometric functions (except sine)
• Proof by mathematical inductionProof by mathematical induction
• Analytic GeometryAnalytic Geometry
• Introduction ofIntroduction of “Hindi”“Hindi” (“(“Arabic”)Arabic”) numerals.numerals.
• Decimal point notationDecimal point notation
• Spherical trigonometrySpherical trigonometry
• Frequency analysis & cryptanalysisFrequency analysis & cryptanalysis
• Non-Euclidian GeometryNon-Euclidian Geometry
• Al Khwarazim – 790-840 – first Algebra bookAl Khwarazim – 790-840 – first Algebra book
• Algebraic Geometry – Omar KhayyamAlgebraic Geometry – Omar Khayyam

39. I am a Famous Persian Polymath:
– Mathematician
– Philosopher
– Astronomer
– Mechanical Engineer
– Traveler & Geographer
– Musician
– Drinker? Or maybe not…
– Womanizer? Or maybe not…
– POET
•Am I an agnostic hedonistagnostic hedonist or a mystical
Sufi inspired by Plato’s writing?

40. ““A Book of VersesA Book of Verses
underneath the bough,underneath the bough,
A Jug of Wine, a LoafA Jug of Wine, a Loaf
of Bread –of Bread –
And ThouAnd Thou
Beside me singing inBeside me singing in
the Wilderness –the Wilderness –
Oh, Wilderness wereOh, Wilderness were
Paradise enow!”*Paradise enow!”*
= If only Wilderness were a sufficient Paradise!”

41. Awake! For Morning in the Bowl of Night
Has flung the Stone that puts the Stars to Flight:
And lo! The Hunter of the East has
Caught The Sultan’s Turret
in a Noose of Light!

42. The Moving FingerThe Moving Finger
writes: and having writwrites: and having writ
Moves on.Moves on.
Nor all thy Piety nor WitNor all thy Piety nor Wit
Shall lure it back toShall lure it back to
cancel half a Line,cancel half a Line,
Nor all thy Tears washNor all thy Tears wash
out a Word of it.out a Word of it.

43. Dreaming when Dawn’s Left Hand was in
the Sky
I heard a Voice within the Tavern cry
“Awake, my Little ones, and fill the Cup
Before Life’s Liquor in its Cup be dry.”

44. Then to the rolling Heav'n itself IThen to the rolling Heav'n itself I
cried,cried,
Asking, "What Lamp had DestinyAsking, "What Lamp had Destiny
to guide Her little Childrento guide Her little Children
stumbling in the Dark?"stumbling in the Dark?"
And -- "A blind Understanding!"And -- "A blind Understanding!"
Heav'n replied.Heav'n replied.
•

45. Omar Khayyam
• QuatrainsQuatrains
• Carpe DiemCarpe Diem
• Love? Drinking?Love? Drinking?
OROR
• InspiredInspired
Mysticism?Mysticism?
Devout Muslim, or atheisticDevout Muslim, or atheistic
hedonist?hedonist?

46. LiteratureLiterature
• 1001 Nights1001 Nights
–AladdinAladdin --
–Ali Baba and the FortyAli Baba and the Forty
ThievesThieves
–SinbadSinbad

47. al-andaluz
High art, learning, culture in tolerant
MoorishMoorish society.

48. Great Mosque at CordobaGreat Mosque at Cordoba

49. Great Mosque at Cordoba

50. Mihrab at Great Mosque, Cordoba

51. Detail:
Mihrab

53. Ceiling: Great Mosque, Cordoba

54. Alhambra Palace,Alhambra Palace,
GranadaGranada

56. A PearlA Pearl
set in an Emeraldset in an Emerald

59. Royal Palace of Alcazar, SevilleRoyal Palace of Alcazar, Seville
One of the finest examples of Moorish architecture in the world

62. Gardens of the Alcazar Palace

65. La Giralda –
Originally a minaret,
became a church bell tower

66. AndalucianAndalucian
PoetryPoetryZARRA’sZARRA’s
EARRINGSEARRINGS
My earrings, my earrings!My earrings, my earrings!
They’ve dropped into the well,They’ve dropped into the well,
And what to say to Muca, IAnd what to say to Muca, I
cannot, cannot tell.cannot, cannot tell.
‘‘Twas thus, Granada’sTwas thus, Granada’s
fountain by, Spoke Albuharez’fountain by, Spoke Albuharez’
daughter.daughter.
Andalucian poetry inspired European minstrels of middle ages.Andalucian poetry inspired European minstrels of middle ages.

67. The Well is deep;The Well is deep;
Far downFar down
They lie beneath the cold blue water.They lie beneath the cold blue water.
To me did Muca give them, when heTo me did Muca give them, when he
spake his sad farewell,spake his sad farewell,
And what to say when he comes back,And what to say when he comes back,
alas! I cannot tell.alas! I cannot tell.

68. My earrings! My earrings!My earrings! My earrings!
They were pearls in silver set,They were pearls in silver set,
That when my Moor was farThat when my Moor was far
away, I ne’er should him forget.away, I ne’er should him forget.
That I ne’er to other tongueThat I ne’er to other tongue
should list, nor smile on other’sshould list, nor smile on other’s
tale, But remember he my lipstale, But remember he my lips
had kissed pure as thosehad kissed pure as those
earrings pale– When he comesearrings pale– When he comes
back, and hears that I haveback, and hears that I have
dropped them in the well,dropped them in the well,
Oh, what will Muca think of me,Oh, what will Muca think of me,
I cannot, cannot tell.I cannot, cannot tell.

69. My earrings! My earrings! He’ll
say they should have been
Not of pearl and of silver,
But of gold and
glittering sheen,
Of Jasper or of Onyx and of
diamond shining clear,
Changing to the changing light,
with radiance insincere--
That changeful mind unchanging
gems are not befitting well –
Oh, what will Muca think of me, I
cannot, cannot tell.

70. He’ll think when I to market went, I
loitered by the way;
He’ll think a willing ear I lent to all
the lads might say;
He’ll think some other lover’s hand,
among my tresses noosed from the
ears where he had placed them, my
rings of pearl unloosed; He’ll think,
when I was sporting so beside this
marble well,
My pearls fell in – and what to say,
alas! I can not tell.

71. He’ll say, I am a woman, and weHe’ll say, I am a woman, and we
are all the same;are all the same;
He’ll say I loved him when heHe’ll say I loved him when he
was here to whisper of his flamewas here to whisper of his flame
——
But when he went to Tunis myBut when he went to Tunis my
virgin troth had broken,virgin troth had broken,
And thought no more of Muca,And thought no more of Muca,
and cared not for his token.and cared not for his token.
My earrings! My earrings!My earrings! My earrings!
O luckless, luckless well,O luckless, luckless well,
For what to say to Muca, alas!For what to say to Muca, alas!
I cannot tell.I cannot tell.

72. I’ll tell the truth to Muca,I’ll tell the truth to Muca,
And I hope he will believeAnd I hope he will believe
that I thought of him atthat I thought of him at
morning, and I thought ofmorning, and I thought of
him at eve.him at eve.
That, musing on my lover,That, musing on my lover,
when down the sun waswhen down the sun was
gone, His earrings in mygone, His earrings in my
hand I held, by the fountainhand I held, by the fountain
all alone;all alone;
And that my mind was o’erAnd that my mind was o’er
the sea, when from my handthe sea, when from my hand
they fell, and that deep histhey fell, and that deep his
love lies in my heart, as theylove lies in my heart, as they
lie in the well.lie in the well.