Golden Age of Islam Outline

Beginning with Muhammad’s age from the start of 7th century Islam, Islamic culture and politics have gone a great many events and occurrences. Throughout all of its years, it has boasted both a rich culture and technological/intellectual advancements. The preservation of the Quran, developments in mathematics, and the continued emphasis on respect and charitable nature are just some examples of Islamic achievement. However, as with any growing civilization, Islam has evolved beyond what it originated as. The cultural and political life of Islamic civilization beginning in the 7th century to the end of the Abbasids of the 13th century underwent many changes such as the deteriorating view of women in society and the shift from elected caliphates to dynastical caliphate. But, one aspect that persisted were the religious beliefs and traditions followed by the Islamic people.

Driving along the highway, all eyes are drawn as a magnet to the unique building with its golden dome and unusual architecture. The Islamic Center is located at the base of a residential street in a small neighborhood. The center houses an Islamic school, a community center, an international school and the Mosque, which is the place of worship for Muslims.

The Quran had served as the cornerstone of the Islamic society. They spread the message of

In addition to the structure's architectural composition, elaborate Quranic inscriptions further elaborate this message of religious superiority. Carole Hillenbrand alludes to such:

The spread of Islam throughout the world was among the most significant worldwide movements in history. Beginning as the faith of a small community of believers in Arabia in the seventh century, Islam rapidly became one of the major world religions. The core beliefs and culture of this faith is the belief that Muhammad (570-632), a respected businessman in Mecca, a commercial and religious center in western Arabia, received revelations from God that have been preserved in the Qur'an. The core of Islam remains the same today after 1396 years. Islam still translates to “submission” and Muslims still live by the Qur’an and follow the 5 Pillars of Islam. However, throughout the Pre-Islamic, Umayyad, and Abbasid

It is said that the Islamic culture mirrors that of the Roman Empire in terms of expansion and longevity. The now widely practiced faith began in an area called Arabia, which neither Rome nor Persia dared conquer. From its creation, it contributed several important things to Medieval Europe and the World as a whole. It conquered a large region and gained thousands of followers.

Animals and plants are not shown because Muslims think that only God can create animals and plants in his image.

The prominent effect Islam had on Muslims everyday thoughts and actions, portrays how essential the impact of God was in social and governmental relations. Muslim religion was influenced by both the Christians and Jews. Under the guidance of Muhammad the Prophet, Islam became both a meaningful faith and way of life. Unlike just simply “adding” a church like the Christian religion, Islam society was expected to be governed. Their political and religious views and decisions had to be intertwined as one, proving the effect Islam had on everyday lives. For example, the history book The Making of The West, had written, “Arabs had long been used to

Middle East. It is a mosque located in Jerusalem built between 691 and 692 by Umayyad caliph

Most of Europe, especially that of which was under Christian rule, was very skeptical of pagan texts of the ancient Greeks and Romans and never came to study these writings due to discrimination. Muslims, however, did not ignore these valuable teachings and strove to find new knowledge within other cultures and societies. Much of Greek knowledge stems from the ancient Egyptians, the bulk of it being preserved at the Library of Alexandria. During the Muslim occupation of Alexandria, they had direct access to this elusive bank of knowledge and translated large amounts of books into Arabic, including the bible. From this, Islamic society tapped into a great understanding of the world around them and eventually brought this rich knowledge with them to the al-Andalus. Among theses teachings, Muslims had a great understanding of irrigation and hydraulic systems passed on from the Phoenicians, Greeks, Romans, and Egyptians, which would become a great asset to their success in agriculture, landscaping, and gardening in Spain (“Al-Andalus History”).

The book that we have chosen to review is titled “Lost History, the Enduring Legacy of Muslim Scientists, Thinkers and Artists”. The author of the book is Michael Hamilton Morgan. The book was published in the year 2007 and also holds the same copyright date. The book is a non-fiction. The main subject matter of the book is the history of the Islamic civilization from the birth of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him)

The region of the Middle East and its inhabitants have always been a wonder to the Europeans, dating back to the years before the advent of Islam and the years following the Arab conquest. Today, the Islamic world spreads from the corners of the Philippines to the far edges of Spain and Central Africa. Various cultures have adopted the Islamic faith, and this blending of many different cultures has strengthened the universal Islamic culture. The religion of Islam has provided a new meaning to the lives of many people around the world. In the Islamic world, the religion defines and enriches culture and as a result the culture gives meaning to the individual. Islam is not only a religion, it is in its own way a culture. It may be this very

As history continues, many religions have had an over powering effect on western civilization. When the 5th century arose, the religion, Islam, had an extremely important impact on the civilization. Muhammad, an Arabic prophet founded Islam and began to introduce it the people of his time. Diplomacy, violence, warfare, public laws, and Arabic tradition played a crucial role in the building of the Islamic religion. These important aspects helped shape and build the Islam religion that is now one of the world’s most widely practiced religions.

Islamic rule spread over major areas of Africa, the Middle East, South, Southeast and Central Asia, Spain, and Southern Italy. Many Christians saw Islam as a religion of the sword. They have been very violent throughout their history. Arabian armies engaged in attacking the remnants of the Byzantine Empire. The First Crusade was launched in order to stop the Arabian invaders.

There were many ornate mosques in Bagdad. Mosques were the center of life, so bazaars would arise around the mosques. The blocks in which Bagdad was comprised of each had an overseer. They made sure that the block was clean and safe. There was a large open space where troops from all nationalities could parade. Troops were brought together from different locations where Islam had taken hold. These troops had ships from all across the land in the harbor, from the “Chinese (ship), to the old Assyrian raft resting on inflated skins” (Page 31, Reading 6). This showed the remarkable power that Islam had on people. Hospitals and infirmaries were built to satisfy the Muslim tenets of helping one another. Places of learning were built to help people improve their knowledge. Numerous suburbs were right outside the main city. There were parks, gardens, and villas. There was no hierarchy in Islam, except for the Prophet’s family. The Caliph, or successor to the prophet, had a palace in the middle of a, “Vast park beside a menagerie and aviary comprised an enclosure for wild animals reserved for the chase. The palace grounds were laid out with gardens… with plants, flowers, and trees, reservoirs and fountains” (Page 30, Reading 6). This was created for one of the most important people in the Islamic religion, the