Contributions of Art, Architecture, and Scholarship
Art
Muslim artists had a range of materials that was used such as wood, ceramics, metals, and textiles. Each artist had a similar theme. In Islamic art, human or animal figures are not depicted because they believe that people would want to worship the images which is the worst sin. Geometric patterns and floral designs were applied to avoid artists using people or animal figures in their works. Arabesque decoration was used for carpets, walls, and illustrated texts. They used calligraphy as a beautiful style of writing. Copies of the Qur'an were made by the artists, so others could read the word of Allah. These words became important to Islamic Art. This type of art is used on the walls of Mosques and on many household items.
Architecture
The Islamic architecture has unique features. Although there were plans for building custom mosques around the world, they already had some features in common such as minarets and domes. Minarets are tall towers where Muslims are called to pray. Mosques could have Persian or Turkish features depending on where they are located.
The Islamic architecture has unique features. Although there were plans for building custom mosques around the world, they already had some features in common such as minarets and domes. Minarets are tall towers where Muslims are called to pray. Mosques could have Persian or Turkish features depending on where they are located.
Scholarship
Learning (scholarship) boomed throughout the Muslim world. Scholars made several contributions to different fields. Learning increased because Muslims were commanded to examine the world and seek evidence of Allah in its wonders. Another reason is that there was an immensity of the caliphate, or land of the ruler, and there were many different cultures within including the Greeks, Persians, and Indians.
One important contribution was the translations of works by scientists and philosophers of Ancient Greece into Arabic. During the
early Abbasid period, works from scientists and philosophers were done in an academy called the House of Wisdom in Baghdad. This academy was controlled by the government. By translating these works, the scientists made the texts from Hippocrates, Euclid, Galen, and Ptolemy available to a new audience. Once they translated the works into Arabic the Greek texts stimulated further study throughout the Muslim world. The texts from the works stretched to Europe and in time, it was translated into Latin. Then, these texts were accessible to European scholars and they were taught in European universities during the Middle Ages.
Muslim Spain was the exchange point for much of this knowledge. For example, a Muslim scholar of Córdoba, Spain, named Ibn Rushd, or Averroes wrote commentaries on Aristotle. Averroes’ work on the relationship between reason and faith influenced not just Muslim, but also Jewish and Christian thinking into the 1400s.
Astronomy
What is Astronomy? Astronomy is the study of objects in space. In the field of Astronomy, it was the first field to come to the Muslim world from the texts of Persia and India. The most important work by Ptolemy is called the Almagest which was translated into Arabic in the 800's and it explained the movements of heavenly bodies and gave tables for predicting their paths.
To add to their knowledge, Muslim astronomers built observatories for watching the sky. At an observatory in Persia, one astronomer improved a catalog of stars from Ptolemy’s work. At another Persian observatory, scientists created an accurate calendar that is still used today. The calendar was used for religious responsibilities, festivals, and every day things. Muslims also use the lunar calendar, so they can predict the phases of the moon. This was also used to plan religious festivals.
The knowledge of astronomy was essential to navigation. With this information of the night sky, Muslims finalized the astrolabe which is an instrument used to find the positions and movements of stars and planets. It also pointed toward Mecca which was used for the daily prayers. Sailors could use this instrument to calculate latitude, longitude, and the time of day.
Mathematics
Muslim scholars made advances in mathematics such as algebra and trigonometry. This started when scholars from India adopted the symbols 0 through 9. By the time Europe got the new system of symbols, the numbers were known as Arabic numerals.
Medicine
Medicine is very important in the world. For the Islamic community, Baghdad doctors had to pass tests before they could practice medicine. In Baghdad, it was the place where the world's first school of pharmacy came to be. In the world of medicine, Muslim doctors developed many skills such as performing eye surgery where they used different instruments. One instrument is the hollow needle which was used to draw out a film that caused blindness. There was a Persian doctor named Ibn Sina, who was also known as Avicenna. He was most likely the most famous medical scholar of his time. He contributed too many fields besides medicine like logic, music, and psychology.
Geography
Geographers made advances because the empire had so much land and people. Pilgrims needed to find their way to Mecca, so travel guides were written down to explain how and where to go. There was one geographer who made a development in the world's history by measuring the earth's circumference with a substantial accuracy.
Learning (scholarship) boomed throughout the Muslim world. Scholars made several contributions to different fields. Learning increased because Muslims were commanded to examine the world and seek evidence of Allah in its wonders. Another reason is that there was an immensity of the caliphate, or land of the ruler, and there were many different cultures within including the Greeks, Persians, and Indians.
One important contribution was the translations of works by scientists and philosophers of Ancient Greece into Arabic. During the
early Abbasid period, works from scientists and philosophers were done in an academy called the House of Wisdom in Baghdad. This academy was controlled by the government. By translating these works, the scientists made the texts from Hippocrates, Euclid, Galen, and Ptolemy available to a new audience. Once they translated the works into Arabic the Greek texts stimulated further study throughout the Muslim world. The texts from the works stretched to Europe and in time, it was translated into Latin. Then, these texts were accessible to European scholars and they were taught in European universities during the Middle Ages.
Muslim Spain was the exchange point for much of this knowledge. For example, a Muslim scholar of Córdoba, Spain, named Ibn Rushd, or Averroes wrote commentaries on Aristotle. Averroes’ work on the relationship between reason and faith influenced not just Muslim, but also Jewish and Christian thinking into the 1400s.
Astronomy
What is Astronomy? Astronomy is the study of objects in space. In the field of Astronomy, it was the first field to come to the Muslim world from the texts of Persia and India. The most important work by Ptolemy is called the Almagest which was translated into Arabic in the 800's and it explained the movements of heavenly bodies and gave tables for predicting their paths.
To add to their knowledge, Muslim astronomers built observatories for watching the sky. At an observatory in Persia, one astronomer improved a catalog of stars from Ptolemy’s work. At another Persian observatory, scientists created an accurate calendar that is still used today. The calendar was used for religious responsibilities, festivals, and every day things. Muslims also use the lunar calendar, so they can predict the phases of the moon. This was also used to plan religious festivals.
The knowledge of astronomy was essential to navigation. With this information of the night sky, Muslims finalized the astrolabe which is an instrument used to find the positions and movements of stars and planets. It also pointed toward Mecca which was used for the daily prayers. Sailors could use this instrument to calculate latitude, longitude, and the time of day.
Mathematics
Muslim scholars made advances in mathematics such as algebra and trigonometry. This started when scholars from India adopted the symbols 0 through 9. By the time Europe got the new system of symbols, the numbers were known as Arabic numerals.
Medicine
Medicine is very important in the world. For the Islamic community, Baghdad doctors had to pass tests before they could practice medicine. In Baghdad, it was the place where the world's first school of pharmacy came to be. In the world of medicine, Muslim doctors developed many skills such as performing eye surgery where they used different instruments. One instrument is the hollow needle which was used to draw out a film that caused blindness. There was a Persian doctor named Ibn Sina, who was also known as Avicenna. He was most likely the most famous medical scholar of his time. He contributed too many fields besides medicine like logic, music, and psychology.
Geography
Geographers made advances because the empire had so much land and people. Pilgrims needed to find their way to Mecca, so travel guides were written down to explain how and where to go. There was one geographer who made a development in the world's history by measuring the earth's circumference with a substantial accuracy.
Islam 101
Melissa Roth and Claudia Cabana
Marple Newtown High School
Date Last Edited: March 23, 2013
Copyright 2013
Melissa Roth and Claudia Cabana
Marple Newtown High School
Date Last Edited: March 23, 2013
Copyright 2013