1. Chapter 5, Lesson 3 Life in the Islamic World
It Matters Because:
Muslim advances in mathematics, business, science, architecture, and the arts helped to create our modern society.

2. Daily Life and Trade
Muslim caravans controlled trade from Africa to China for nearly years
Caravans and ships made Muslim merchants very rich

3. Why Were Muslim Traders Successful?
As merchants traveled between the Middle East and Far East, they converted people to Islam and spread Arabic language
Islam became faith of the region and Arabic the language of trade
Muslim rulers supported trade
Muslims kept detailed records of their dealings and earnings
Led to the beginning of the banking industry

4. Muslim Cities and Farms
Cities in the Muslim world grew as trade increased
Muslim cities like Cairo, Mecca, Baghdad and Damascus became centers of government, education and culture as well as trade
Mosques were an important part of Muslim cities
Houses of worship
Also served as courts and places for education
Muslim bazaars were the shopping malls of the day
Most Muslims lived in villages and farmed

5. How was Muslim Society Organized?
Society was organized into social groups by levels of power and wealth
Slavery was common – many slaves were prisoners of war
Men were in charge of government , society, and business
Women managed families and homes
Women were able to own land and inherit wealth
Some women were educated

6. Muslim Contributions
At the House of Wisdom in Baghdad, Muslim, Jewish, and Christian scholars translated many classic works into Arabic
Muslim scholars preserved many great works of classical literature and philosophy
These works would have been lost to history otherwise
Arabic texts of Greek philosophy were translated into Latin, giving birth to the Renaissance

7. Science and Mathematics
Astronomers in Baghdad studied the skies
Described sun’s eclipses
Explained how the moon affects ocean tides
Improved the Greek astrolabe
Astrolabe – tool that helps sailors navigate by the positions of the stars
Used to measure the circumference of the earth
Confirmed that earth was round
Experimented with different metals
Muslims considered founders of modern chemistry
Muslim mathematicians borrowed symbols 0-9 from Hindu
Today known as Arabic numerals

8. Medicine Discovered that blood circulates to and from the heart
Discovered and treated many diseases, including smallpox and measles
Created first medical schools, clinics, and pharmacies

9. Literature Quran – first and most important Arabic work
The Thousand and One Nights, aka Arabian Nights, includes stories from India, Persia, and Arabia
Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves and Aladdin are among the most popular characters
The epic poem Rubaiyat is considered among the greatest poems ever written
Ibn Khaldun, a Muslim historian, studied cause-effect relationships in history
One of the first historians to study relationship between geography, climate, and human activities

10. Art and Architecture
Muslim artists discouraged creating images of living creatures
They feared idolatry
Idolatry – worship of idols
Cities known for beautiful buildings
Mosques dominated many city skylines
Minarets – towers from which an announcer called Muslims to prayer 5 times daily
Muslim palaces were guarded with walls and featured central courtyards and gardens
Most famous is Taj Mahal in India, built as a tomb for the ruler’s wife from marble and precious stone
Still considered one of the world’s most beautiful buildings