Islamic Achievements

​Muslim Learning:

​In Islam we know that knowledge is sacred.

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Muslim rulers established libraries, and academics were scholars could study and exchange ideas.

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House of Wisdom, in Baghdad, was the most famous center for learning.

here one could find great works from Greece, Persia, and India.

Thus combining Islamic works with Greek and foreign ideas. ​

​Philosophy

​Brilliant Muslim Philosophers include: al-Kindi & Ibn Rushd.

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Both were physicians and writers who explored Greek ideas.

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Ibn Rushd: studied Aristotle and tried to integrate faith and reason.

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Known by his latin name Averroes, he influenced scholars in Europe. ​

​Medicine

​Also studied ancient Greek scholars.

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Muslim doctors made improvements on Greek medicine.

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​Science & Math

​Arab mathematicians used a decimal system based in Hindu numerals, and borrowed the concept of 0.

This number system spread to Europe, which is why we refer to them as Arabic Numerals.

Other advances in mathematics, include: ​geometry, algebra, and trigonometry.

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Astronomers build observatories.

Muslim scholars rediscovered ​an ancient Greek device, astrolabe, an instrument that is designed to measure and plot the positions of the stars.

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This also helped in determining prayer times, and the direction of Mecca. ​

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​astrolabe

​Geography & History

​Ibn Khaldoun attempted to explain the rise and the fall of dynasties.

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Ibn Battuta, was from Morocco and traveled the most, for about 30 years

and wrote a famous book about his travel journey "Rihla" ​

​The Arts & Literature:

​God is beautiful and loves beauty- a hadith.

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​Arts & Architecture

​Muslim civ. was well known for their arts.

• ​woven carpets

• colorful mosaic tiles

• arabesque: a pattern of curved shapes and lines resembling flowers or vines. appeared on everything including palace walls.

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Muslim Architects built Mosques, and palaces.

• the Dome of the Rock, a mosque in Jerusalem, Palestine.

• The Alhambra, a Muslim palace in Grenada, Spain.

• The Taj Mahal, a Muslim monument in Agra, India.

​Caligraphy

​sacred Muslim art, or decorative writing.

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beautifully written passages in the Quran were painted on books, carved onto walls, and wooven into textiles.

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​Literature

highly valued

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Muslims wrote about Islam, as well as folk tales, and stories.

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Poetry about love and nature.

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Many of these tales, can be found in the book titled, "A thousand and one nights" ​

​Poetry

​Based on oral tradition

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used spoken verse to mock their enemies, and praise their tribe.

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The most important poetic styles came from deeply spiritual Suffis. ​

The most famous Sufi poet was Rumi, he was Persian. ​

He emphasized the importance of unity of all faiths, and love. ​