Muslim ContributionsChapter 10

Islamic Civilization in 750 CE

By the middle of the 8th century, Arab conquests had created a vast Muslim empire.

Spain, North Africa, and much of western and central Asia came under Muslim rule.

Abbasid Dynasty

Ruling family descended from Abbas, an uncle of Muhammad.

Took away power from the Umayyad Dynasty by 750 CE.

Made Baghdad (located in modern-day Iraq) its capital city.

Became a major city of learning in many fields of study.

Fatimid Dynasty

Muslim ruling family in Egypt and North Africa that descended from Fatimah, Muhammad’s daughter.

Cairo was their capital city.

Its university became the most advanced in the Muslim world.

Muslim Trade Routes

Trade routes connected Asia, Europe, and Africa.

Muslims learned papermaking from the Chinese, and passed this knowledge on to Europeans.

Muslims produced new scientific, medical, and philosophical texts based on earlier Greek works.

Science and Technology

ContributionsZoology: scientific study of animals.

Evolution: process of how living things develop over time.

Astronomy: study of planets, stars, and other objects in the universe.

Irrigation and underground wells

Geography and Navigation

ContributionsDivided the world into climate zones.

Calculated the circumference of the Earth.

Maps.

Compass and astrolabe helped sailors travel across oceans and know where they were going.

Mathematics Contributions

Algebra: solving problems involving unknown numbers, like 7x + 4 = 25 (What is the value of x?).

Arabic numerals (1, 2, 3, 4, …) are still used today.

Spread the concept of ZERO (which in Arabic means “something empty.”

Medicine Contributions

Muslim doctors treated patients with herbal remedies as well as drugs, diet, and exercise.

World’s first hospitals.

Pharmacists (people who prepares medications for use in healing) made antiseptics and ointments to treat sick patients.

Surgeons amputated (cut off) limbs, removed tumors, and used animal gut to stitch up wounds.

Art & Music Contributions

Shapes and patterns found in nature and geometry were used to create beautiful designs and decorations.

Highest decorative art was calligraphy, the art of beautiful handwriting.

Beautifully colored robes were made to show rank and status of people.

Musicians and poets worked together to create songs about love, nature, and the glory of the empire.

Summary

Muslims made many contributions to world civilization.

In the 7th and 8th centuries, Arab conquests created a vast Muslim empire with the Abbasid and Fatimid Dynasties.

Muslims made many advances in areas such as science, technology, math, medicine, geography, and art.