The History and Achievements of the Islamic Golden Age

Overview

Course No. 3863
The study of Western Civilization traditionally follows a well-known but incomplete arc: the grand achievements of Greece and Rome, several hundred years of the “Dark Ages,” and then the bright emergence of the European Renaissance. But amid the “dark” Middle Ages, the Abbasid Empire, which ruled the Middle East as well as much of Northern Africa and Central Asia from 750 to 1258, serves as a vitally important bridge between the ancient and modern worlds.

The History and Achievements of the Islamic Golden Age is your opportunity to get to know the story and the accomplishments of this great period in human civilization. Taught by acclaimed lecturer Eamonn Gearon, these 24 remarkable lectures offer brilliant insights into an era too often overlooked by traditional history textbooks. From the origins of the scientific method to the invention of the modern teaching hospital to some of the world’s greatest literature, the scholars, scientists, poets, and philosophers who paved the way for the Renaissance continue to affect our world in surprising ways.

It is nearly impossible to overstate the power and importance of this crucial 500-year history, headquartered in Baghdad but stretching around the world. While much of Europe was quietly passing the time, the Abbasid Empire was an international, multicultural hub of trade, travel, education, art, science, and much more. This vibrant course brings the story to life in rich detail and will forever change your perspective on world history.

Course Lectures

1. From Camels to Stars in the Middle East
   Step back to one of the most important yet overlooked periods in human history. Your tour of the Golden Age of Islamic Civilization begins with the who, what, why, where, when, and how of this great period and its impact.
   Duration: 32 min
2. Ibn Battuta’s Search for Knowledge
   Meet the Moroccan wayfarer Ibn Battuta and trace his journey across Northern Africa and the Middle East in the century after the Mongol sack of Baghdad.
   Duration: 30 min
3. Arabian Nights Caliph: Harun al-Rashid
   Get to know the great Caliph Harun al-Rashid and Baghdad’s House of Wisdom, which was the world’s largest depository of books at that time.
   Duration: 32 min
4. The Arab World’s Greatest Writer: al-Jahiz
   Considered by many scholars to be the finest writer of Arabic prose, al-Jahiz authored more than 200 works many of which survive today.
   Duration: 30 min
5. Algebra, Algorithms, and al-Khwarizmi
   The field of mathematics owes a tremendous debt to the Islamic Golden Age, particularly to mathematicians like al-Khwarizmi.
   Duration: 31 min
6. Baghdad’s House of Wisdom
   During the Abbasid Empire, Baghdad’s House of Wisdom was the world’s preeminent center for translation and original research.
   Duration: 29 min
7. Muhammad, the Hadith, and Imam Bukhari
   Journey with al-Bukhari as he wrestles with the authenticity of hundreds of thousands of hadith and how his work impacts Islam today.
   Duration: 29 min
8. Interpreting and Defending the Quran
   By considering the life of al-Tabari, explore the method and implications of tafsir, or exegesis.
   Duration: 32 min
9. The Arab Herodotus: al-Masudi
   Follow the journey of al-Masudi for a broad tour of the Islamic Golden Age and a reflection on his writings.
   Duration: 27 min
10. Cairo, al-Haytham, and the Book of Optics
    Delve into al-Haytham’s experimentation with optics and why he is often called the world’s first true scientist.
    Duration: 30 min
11. Master Muslim Scholar: al-Biruni
    This lecture introduces al-Biruni, a polymath who left a mark on many disciplines including physics, math, and history.
    Duration: 31 min
12. Astronomy in the Islamic Golden Age
    Focus on the work of three Islamic astronomers and explore the advancements in astronomy during this era.
    Duration: 30 min
13. Medieval Muslim Medicine and Hospitals
    Encounter one of the greatest medical minds, Ibn Sina (Avicenna), and explore the rise of teaching hospitals.
    Duration: 30 min
14. Alchemistry and Chemistry in Early Baghdad
    Witness the process of experimentation that led to the development of the scientific method.
    Duration: 30 min
15. The Fertile Crescent, Water, and al-Jazari
    Discover the link between agriculture and politics through the examination of irrigation methods in the Abbasid Empire.
    Duration: 29 min
16. Jewish Scholar in Cairo: Moses Maimonides
    Delve into the politics of Cordoba in Andalusia and Maimonides’ scholarship regarding faith and reason.
    Duration: 31 min
17. The Banu Musa’s Inventions and Automatons
    Take a look at the era’s intriguing inventions and examine the life of al-Jazari, the “father of robotics.”
    Duration: 30 min
18. Mosques, Architecture, and Gothic Revival
    Tour the architecture of great mosques and see how the era influenced the later European Gothic Revival.
    Duration: 32 min
19. Arabic Verse, Love Poetry, and Wine Songs
    Examine the works of poets like Abu Nuwas and reflect on poetry’s role in the Golden Age.
    Duration: 30 min
20. Medieval Mastermind: Avicenna (Ibn Sina)
    Discover how Avicenna built on Aristotle’s tradition and his importance in the realms of ontology and cosmology.
    Duration: 31 min
21. Entertaining in the Time of the Abbasids
    Uncover the food and music culture of the era, revealing surprises such as the origins of the traditional three-course meal.
    Duration: 30 min
22. Calligraphy, Carpets, and the Arabic Arts
    Revel in the fine arts of the Islamic Golden Age, including stunning calligraphy and geometric patterns.
    Duration: 32 min
23. When Did the Islamic Golden Age End?
    Consider reasons for the end of the Golden Age including outside invaders and other complex factors.
    Duration: 31 min
24. Ibn Khaldun on the Rise and Fall of Empire
    Conclude with reflections on what followed the Golden Age, including the rise of the Ottoman Empire and the Black Death.
    Duration: 34 min