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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
During the Islamic Golden Age (fl. 700 - 1400), scholars and engineers of the Islamic world contributed enormously to philosophy, science and technology. Scientific and intellectual achievements blossomed in this Golden age, and passed on to Europe to be expanded upon in the European Renaissance
Much of this development can be linked to geography. Even prior to Islam's presence, the city of Mecca served as a center of trade in Arabia. The tradition of the pilgrimage to Mecca became a center for exchanging ideas and goods. The influence held by Muslim merchants over African-Arabian and Arabian-Asian trade routes was tremendous.
Muslim merchants brought goods and their faith to China, India, Southeast Asia, and the kingdoms of Western Africa.
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[edit] Islamic art
The golden age of Islamic (and/or Muslim) art lasted from 750 to the 16th century. Ceramics, glass, metalwork, textiles, illuminated manuscripts, and woodwork flourished. Calligraphy, an essential aspect of written Arabic, developed in manuscripts and architectural decoration.
[edit] Sciences
Most notable Islamic scientists lived and practiced during the Islamic Golden Age. Among the achievements of Muslim scholars during this period were the invention of spherical trigonometry, advances in optics, and advances in astronomy. These advances included the construction of the first observatory, the collection and correction of previous astronomical data, and the invention of the astrolabe.
[edit] Medicine
Medicine was a central part of medieval Islamic culture. Responding to circumstances of time and place, Islamic physicians and scholars developed a large and complex medical literature exploring and synthesizing the theory and practice of medicine.
In the medieval Islamic world, hospitals were built in all major cities; in Cairo for example, the Qalawun Hospital could care for 8,000 patients, and a staff that included physicians, pharmacists, and nurses. One could also access a research facility that led to advances in understanding contagious diseases, and research into optics and the mechanisms of the eye. Muslim doctors were removing cataracts with hollow needles over 1000 years before Westerners dared attempt such a task.
[edit] Mongolian invasion and gradual decline
In 1206, Genghis Khan established a powerful dynasty among the Mongols of central Asia. During the 13th century, this Mongol Empire conquered most of the Eurasian land mass, including both China in the east and much of the old Islamic caliphate (as well as Russia) in the west after Hulagu Khan's invasion of Baghdad in 1258. Later Mongol leaders, such as Timur, destroyed many cities, slaughtered hundreds of thousands of people, and did irrevocable damage to the ancient irrigation systems of Mesopotamia.
Eventually, most of the Mongol peoples that settled in Western and Central Asia converted to Islam and in many instances became assimilated into various Muslim Iranian or Turkic peoples. (For instance, one of the greatest Muslim astronomers in later times, Ulugh Beg, was a grandson of Timur.) The Ottoman Empire rose from the ashes, but the Golden Age was theoretically over.
