Developments in Dar al-Islam
Unit 1: c. 1200-1450
Main Ideas:
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Muslim empires (such as Abbasid Caliphate) had many intellectual innovations (especially in science & math)
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Islam spread throughout Afro-Eurasia via to merchants & missionaries (especially Sufis)
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Trade flourished due to Middle East's prime location
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Many commercial innovations helped boost trade
Abbasid Caliphate
750-1258
Key Ideas:
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Had many innovations in science, math, and literature
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House of Wisdom: Ancient university with many STEM innovations (e.g. algebra)
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Spread Islam via merchants, missionaries, and military
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Islamic merchants traveled throughout Afro-Eurasia → Spread Islam everywhere
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Missionaries of Sufi Islam were most successful due to Sufism's emotional appeal
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As Islamic empires expanded militarily, they brought more people into their Islamic rule
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Trade flourished due to Middle East's prime location
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Islamic merchants engaged in trade with West Africa, East Africa, India, China, Southeast Asia, and Europe
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Increase in trade → Commercial innovations made trade easier
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Letters of credit: Merchants deposit money in one place & get a letter of credit to pick up the money in another place → Decreases risk of robbery
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Caravanserai: Roadside inns where merchants could rest for the night
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House of Wisdom, the Islamic center of learning with achievements in math, science, and literature. Algebra was created here

A caravanserai at Koya, Iraq, built in 12th century during Abbasid Caliphate
