Value: Books became big business in the Muslim world. In Baghdad, more than 100 bookshops lined Papersellers’ Street. In addition to copies of the Qur’an, many volumes of poetry and other stories were sold. Books became more available and contributed to interest in all kinds of learning. Muslims scholars created books about medicine, astronomy, zoology, and many other areas of science. Furthermore, they took Greek and Roman stories and histories, translated them into Arabic, and preserved them in libraries (see: House of Wisdom)

Arabs had a rich history of storytelling and poetry that honored love, praised rulers, or celebrated wit. Scholars began to collect these stories into large volumes of books. Muslim literature was enriched by Islamic mysticism, called Sufism. This religious practice involves intense personal experiences of God rather than routine performance of rituals. One way the Sufis expressed their love and devotion was through poetry filled with vivid images and beautiful language. Furthermore, since both designs and calligraphy were used to decorate books, it became a status symbol to own them. Indeed, a sign of a wealthy person was a well-stocked library.

History Alive!: the Medieval World and Beyond. Teachers' Curriculum Institute, 2011.

BookmakingImpact:

As Muslim artists and scholars began to perfect the process of bookmaking, books became more common and more affordable. Muslim libraries were centers of learning where knowledge that would otherwise be lost was preserved. Educational books in topics such as medicine made it possible for Muslim scientists to quickly and accurately share information, and as a result, further knowledge was developed. As time goes on, bookmaking and libraries have become key developments in furthering and advancing societies. Furthermore, since both designs and calligraphy were used to decorate books, it became a status symbol to own them. Indeed, a sign of a wealthy person was a well-stocked library.

BookmakingBackground:

In the 8th century, Muslims learned the art of making paper from the Chinese. Soon they were creating bound books. Bookmaking encouraged the growth of Muslim literature. Craftspeople turned bookmaking into an art form. Bookmakers gathered sheets of papers into leather bindings. They illuminated the bindings an pages with designs in gold as well as with miniature paintings.

Houses of Wisdom

The House of Wisdom was an educational institution founded in Baghdad by the Abbasid caliph al-ma’mun, in 830 CE. At the House of Wisdom, scholars from many parts of the world translated books into Arabic from Greek, Persian, and Indian texts on such topics as mathematics, astronomy, and logic. Scholars who came to the House of Wisdom translated Greek classics in philosophy and science into Arabic. These scholars helped preserve Greek classics that might otherwise have been lost or destroyed. The results of their work also assisted in encouraging openness to new ways of thinking. In addition, the House of Wisdom’s extensive library, which was open to the public, contained Qur’ans and collections of Hadith (sayings of the Prophet Muhammad) and books on law, poetry, history, and the like. The library was a model for other libraries throughout the Muslim world.