Muslim countries frequently make headlines for their attacks on
freedom of expression, sexuality, education, or anything considered
pro-western. But few people know that Islam once embraced these institutions,
in a period of history scholars refer to as ‘the Golden Age’, which notably
coincided with the European Dark Ages.
So, what exactly was the Golden Age of Islam?
Well, most historians understand the Islamic Golden Age as a
period of history under the Abbasid Dynasty, which ruled from the 8th to 12th
century. At the time, Islam was only about a century old, and concentrated in
the Arabian Peninsula, the Mediterranean, and North Africa. Once the Abbasids
took over and formed a caliphate, the capitol was moved to Baghdad, and Islam spread
to other regions.
The Abbasids were inspired by verses from the Quran and Hadiths
that emphasized the value of knowledge, rather than just religious devotion,
and they strongly pushed for advances in science, art, and commerce.
One of the most unique features of the Islamic Golden Age was its
inclusivity. In Baghdad, the ruling caliph created a House of Wisdom. Here,
Christian and Jewish scholars were invited to join their Muslim counterparts to
share ideas, information and creative work, which was all translated into
Arabic. These scholars carried out a variety of state-funded research projects,
resulting in the Islamic world’s first astronomical observatory and one of the
most detailed world maps of the time.
The House of Wisdom also fostered a considerable amount of
scientific, philosophical, and scholarly works. Many Golden Age scholars put
their studies to practical use, particularly in the field of medicine and
healthcare. Physicians and philosophers wrote medical encyclopedias and
textbooks that were used for centuries.
One famous Persian physician was the first to differentiate
between smallpox and measles. By the 10th century, pharmacies were a staple in
most Muslim cities, and Hospitals stayed open 24hours. This era even saw a sort-of
universal health care, as hospitals were forbidden to turn away the poor.
The period also gave way to some of the world’s first
universities, as well as countless works of art, including architecture,
literature and poetry. The golden age also saw the foundation of Sufism, which
is a mystical Islamic philosophy that promotes peace, education and
philanthropy. Millions of people still adhere to Sufism, and the practice has
been promoted as an alternative to radical forms of Islam.
Most historians mark the 13th century as the end of the Golden
Age, when Genghis Khan and his Mongol army conquered much of East Asia,
including the Islamic Caliphate.
In 13th the Mongols destroyed Baghdad and the House of
Wisdom, anecdotally throwing so many books into the Tigris River that it ran black
with ink. The Caliphate was completely demolished.
Had history played out differently, there’s no telling what Islam
would look like today.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Thank you.