The Islamic Golden Age, spanning from the 7th to the 13th century, was a period of significant advancements in the economic, cultural, and educational fields in Islamic countries. During this time, the Umayyad dynasty was under pressure internally, leading to revolutions led by Arab Abu Al-Abbas. With the support of his followers, the Umayyad dynasty was destroyed, and the Abbasid caliphate was established in its place.
One of the most important cities during this period was Baghdad, which was built by Abbasid leaders. Situated near the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, Baghdad became a vital area for food production and trade activities between Europe and Asia . The city was known for its beauty, with numerous parks, gardens, and bazaars. The palace of the caliphs was a major attraction in Baghdad. The Abbasid caliphs had a keen interest in knowledge and established the House of Wisdom in Baghdad to promote education. This institution attracted scholars from various countries and religions, including Muslims, Christians, and Jews. The translation movement played a significant role in educational progress during this time. Greek works, such as those by Aristotle, were translated into Arabic to spread philosophy, science, and medicinal thoughts.
The translations were carried out by both Muslim and Christian scholars . The Abbasid dynasty also borrowed printing technology from Chinese scientists after a battle against the Tang dynasty. This secret method was brought back to Islamic countries by forcing Chinese printers to reproduce it. The establishment of paper mills further facilitated the spread of knowledge, and Europeans eventually learned this technique from Arabs. Prominent Islamic scholars emerged during this period, including Ibn Rushd from Spain. He was a master of Aristotelian philosophy, Islamic theology, and politics. His philosophical works, known as Averroism, had a significant impact on Islamic thought. Other scholars like Ibn Sina and Ibn Rushd helped preserve and develop the works of Aristotle. Islamic scientists assimilated knowledge from various civilizations, including ancient Greek, Roman, Persian, Chinese, Indian, and Egyptian civilizations. They made advancements in fields such as geometry, astronomy, and mathematics.
The famous mathematical equation of Algebra was developed by Persian scientist Muhammed Ibn Musa Al Khwarisimi. The term is derived from his name. Additionally, Ibn Al Haythm introduced the concept of the camera by studying how the human eye functions. Medicine was also a specialized field during the Islamic Golden Age. Scholars translated medical texts from Sanskrit, Greek, and Syrian into Arabic, leading to the development of new medical science. This emphasis on medical knowledge reflected the importance of medicine in medieval Islamic culture. Overall, the Islamic Golden Age was a time of immense progress and innovation in various fields. The contributions made by scholars during this period continue to influence and shape our world today. During the Islamic Golden Age, scholars made significant advancements in medicine, incorporating knowledge from various civilizations. This emphasis on medical knowledge reflected the importance of medicine in medieval Islamic culture. Medical texts from Sanskrit, Greek, and Syrian were translated into Arabic, leading to the development of new medical science. However, the ending of the Islamic Golden Age was marked by the Mongol invasion of Baghdad. The Mongols destroyed the entire city, including its libraries, and many scholars were killed in the attack. After the Mongols, the ruling power shifted to the Seljuks and then the Ottomans, who were not as interested in educational progress.
Despite its importance, many historians have failed to acknowledge the contributions of Islamic civilizations during this golden age. The fear of mentioning Islam's credits in the educational world has led to a lack of recognition for the developments made by Islamic scholars. However, it is important to recognize and appreciate the immense progress and innovation that occurred during this period. The contributions made by scholars during the Islamic Golden Age continue to influence and shape our world today .
In brief, the Islamic Golden Age was a time of significant advancements in various fields such as economics, culture, and education in Islamic countries. The establishment of Baghdad as a center of trade and knowledge, the translation movement, and the assimilation of knowledge from various civilizations all contributed to the educational progress during this time. Despite the destruction caused by the Mongol invasion, it is crucial to acknowledge and appreciate the contributions made by Islamic scholars during this golden age.