Golden Age of Islam

The Golden Age of Islam refers to the time when the Islamic empire and the religion of Islam grew rapidly both in terms of expanding land and cultural progress. It saw a massive expansion in the fields of science, medicine, engineering, education and the arts, which would form lasting influences on every part of our modern societies.

According to the paragraph above, which of the following were areas of progress during the Golden Age of Islam? (Check all that apply)

• belching

• science

• education

• medicine

The Islamic Golden Age was...famous for the Islamic empire’s strength as a center of trade, which meant ideas and knowledge, as well as goods, could travel out of and into the empire.

According to the paragraph above, the Golden Age of Islam was a time when which of the following could move to and from the Islamic Empire? (please check all that apply)

• ideas

• kidney stones

• goods

• knowledge

The Golden Age of Islam provided essential personal hygiene items such as soap and the toothbrush. The prophet Muhammed is said to have used a birch twig to freshen his breath and clean his teeth.

According to the paragraph, which of the following was an invention introduced during the Golden Age of Islam?

• toothbrush

• lightning rod

• torch

• school bus

The cartographer and scholar Al-Idrisi produced the most modern version of the world map of its time. Muslims had travelled the world because of trade and their faith. The increase in the use of paper meant they could document their expeditions in accounts and maps.

According to the paragraph above, why might maps have been important to Muslims in the Golden Age of Islam?

• Many thought that maps were pretty to look at.

• Many traveled a lot for religious reasons and for trading goods.

• Many were interested in exotic honeymoon destinations.

Muslims translated most of the scientific works of antiquity (from ancient Greece, Rome and Egypt) into Arabic. Many of the ancient works were destroyed after the fall of the Roman Empire. Because of these translations, the great works of Plato, Aristotle, and Socrates were saved.

According to the paragraph above, what was an important contribution of Muslim scholars?

• They invented the ideas of science and philosophy.

• They burned most ancient texts because they had incorrect information.

• They kept ideas of great thinkers alive by translating great texts.

The Bayt al-hikma was a place of learning in the Muslim world that had a massive library that included materials from throughout the known world as well as works by Muslim scholars. The House of Wisdom shows that the Muslim civilization valued learning and knowledge.

According to the paragraph above, what is something that Muslim society valued during its Golden Age?

• power and wealth

• learning and knowledge

• competition and sportsmanship

Al-Zahrawi is called the “father of modern surgery” because he created many surgical tools, including the scalpel; he used catgut to make internal stitches in patients; and he wrote a medical book that was translated into Latin so that European doctors could use it.

According to the paragraph above, which of the following is true?

• the works of Al-Zahrawi had a big impact on western medicine

• Al-Zahrawi was exposed as a liar and fraud

• Al-Zahrawi was the most powerful general in the emperor's army

Al-Jazari designed water-driven pumps that replaced animal power with water power and gears to improve irrigation and sanitation.

According to the paragraph above, which of the following is true?

• The Golden Age of Islam ended because Muslim engineers killed all the work animals.

• Muslim engineers were making it easier to farm and stay healthy.

• Muslim scientists did not develop their own inventions.

Windmills were first developed in Persia. The country was especially suited to their use because steady winds blow across the region’s deserts.

According to the paragraph above, which of the following is true?

• Persia was a very windy place

• Persia was a very wet place

• Persia was a very cold place