PRESENTATION OUTLINE
University of al-Qarawiyyin: concentrated on islamic religious and legal sciences, with a heavy emphasis on classic Arabic grammar. Also taught non-Islamic subjects such as English and French.
Baht al-Hikmah: also known as the House of Wisdom, this major intellectual center focused on the studies of humanities and science in medieval Islam, such as mathematics, zoology, geography, astronomy, and medicine.
The library of Al-Hakam II: this personal library contained over 600,000 books, including books on sciences and history. Al-Hakam II loved history so much he actually wrote a history book.
Learning and Trade
As trade routes developed, new information was spread across the Muslim world. This new information contributed to new ideas being created and lead to universities and education centers. Because of the trade routes, the new education diffused across the Islamic people.
Art Piece 1:
Fragmentary loom width with wavy vine pattern
Ottoman period 1565-80
From Istanbul, Turkey
Made out of thread, this piece displays the repetitive foliage and flower patterns which represent the meaning of paradise or life in the Muslim culture.
Art piece 2:
Mosque lamp for the Mausoleum of Amir Aydakin
Mamluk period, 1285
From Cairo, Egypt
The emblem of the Keeper of the Bow, a pair of confronted bows against a red background, appears nine times on this lamp. This piece is made out of blown glass.
Art piece 3:
Selimiye Mosque
1569-1575
Edirne, Turkey
Built by the architect Mimar Sinan, this ceiling displays an arabesque, an Islamic feature that incorporates many geometric patterns and shapes to portray the perfection that comes only from Allah.
Current Event
On Thursday, October 30th, a sacred site in Jerusalem, Israel was closed for the first time in years due to suspected terrorism attacks and rising tension between the Israelis and the Palestinians. To Jews, the site is known as the Temple Mount and to Muslims the Noble Sanctuary. It is a place where thousands of people go for daily prayer and has now become a site of many clashes between the two parties. Tensions have only risen further with many uprisings, but the sacred site was reopened for prayer the following Friday.
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/31/world/middleeast/israel-palestinians-jeru...
In conclusion, the Muslim world was the foundation for and progressed learning, art, and technology in many ways that affected the entire world. The Muslim community founded the first universities and spread the ideal of education across their empire and eventually to other continents. Many inventions were created within the Islamic world that have been carried on today, such as the first surgical procedures, algebra, and the first flying machine. Finally, Islamic art has inspired and influenced many artists around the world with their geometric styles and repetitive floral patterns. The Muslim world of 700-1700 has proven to be impactful to the present day through their many preserved ideas that are still apparent everywhere in the world.
