The History and Achievements of the Islamic Golden Age

Course Overview

Learn about the many scientific and cultural achievements of one of the most important periods in all of world history, led by an acclaimed lecturer.

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.

Video Lectures

01: From Camels to Stars in the Middle East (32 min)

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. Explore the Abbasid Empire and see how it bridged the ancient world and the Renaissance.

02: Ibn Battuta’s Search for Knowledge (30 min)

As a truly international, intercultural, interracial, and even intercontinental era, great travelers abound. Here, you will 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. Gain new insights into the era—including whether it ever truly came to an end.

03: Arabian Nights Caliph: Harun al-Rashid (32 min)

Get to know the great Caliph Harun al-Rashid and Baghdad’s House of Wisdom, which was the largest depository of books in the world at that time—and served as the engine that drove much of the Golden Age. Then shift your attention to the Arabian Nights collection of stories and legends to discover the source of al-Rashid’s enduring fame.

04: The Arab World’s Greatest Writer: al-Jahiz (30 min)

Considered by many scholars to be the finest writer of Arabic prose who ever lived, al-Jahiz was a brilliant stylist and author of more than 200 works, many of which survive today. In this lecture, you will uncover the origins of Arabic writing before turning to the life and works of al-Jahiz.

05: Algebra, Algorithms, and al-Khwarizmi (31 min)

The field of mathematics owes a tremendous debt to the Islamic Golden Age. Mathematicians such as Omar Khayyam (who is perhaps better known today as a poet) and al-Khwarizmi built on the work of Babylonian, Greek, and Indian mathematicians to systematize and explain algebra and symbolic algorithms. Survey this critical period of mathematics history.

06: Baghdad’s House of Wisdom (29 min)

During the Abbasid Empire, Baghdad’s House of Wisdom was the world’s preeminent center for translation and original research. Find out why translation flourished in this era, and meet two of the Golden Age’s most important translators: Hunayan Ibn Ishaq and al-Kindi. Then consider the intellectual legacy of the Arabic translation movement.

07: Muhammad, the Hadith, and Imam Bukhari (29 min)

“Hadith” refers to the collected sayings of Muhammad outside of the Quran, all of which were gathered and sifted in an amazing feat of research by Imam al-Bukhari 200 years after Muhammad’s death. Journey with al-Bukhari as he wrestles with the authenticity of hundreds of thousands of hadith—and how his work continues to impact Islam today.

08: Interpreting and Defending the Quran (32 min)

Delve into the realm of Quranic exegesis from the year 750 until about 1258. By considering the life of al-Tabari, one of the most important commentators in Islamic history, you will uncover the method and implications of tafsir, or exegesis. Your study will take you into controversial territory with a look at the infamous Satanic Verses.

09: The Arab Herodotus: al-Masudi (27 min)

Examine the life and times of one of the era’s great travel writers. Following the journey of al-Masudi gives you a broad tour of the Islamic Golden Age and its history. After reviewing his biography and reflecting on his reasons for traveling, you will survey the many subjects he wrote about, from geography and geology to the strategy of backgammon.

10: Cairo, al-Haytham, and the Book of Optics (30 min)

Al-Haytham’s seven-volume Book of Optics is one of the most fascinating works of scientific enquiry in the Golden Age. After reviewing the wider context of Cairo in the 10th century, delve into al-Haytham’s experimentation with optics and the eye. Find out why many modern scholars have called him the world’s first true scientist.

11: Master Muslim Scholar: al-Biruni (31 min)

This lecture introduces you to al-Biruni, a scholar and polymath who left a mark on physics, math, astronomy, geography, anthropology, history, and much more. Born in modern-day Uzbekistan, his pursuit of learning and dissemination of knowledge is unparalleled. See what made his scholastic approach and his research methodology so groundbreaking.

12: Astronomy in the Islamic Golden Age (30 min)

It would be difficult to overstate the importance of the Islamic Golden Age on the field of astronomy, as evidenced today by the number of stars with Arabic names. Focusing on the work of three Islamic astronomers, you’ll explore the difference between astronomy and astrology, and unpack the many scientific advancements of the era.

13: Medieval Muslim Medicine and Hospitals (30 min)

Continue your study of the Golden Age’s many scientific achievements with a look at the development of medicine and the rise of what today we would call the teaching hospital. Along the way, you will encounter one of the greatest medical minds of all time, Ibn Sina (better known in the West as Avicenna).

14: Alchemistry and Chemistry in Early Baghdad (30 min)

The word “scientist” wasn’t invented until the 19th century, but we would nonetheless apply the word to the many scientific thinkers of the Golden Age. Here, you’ll witness the process of experimentation that was the start of the scientific method, and you’ll see how scientists of the time advanced the field of chemistry.

15: The Fertile Crescent, Water, and al-Jazari (29 min)

The Middle East’s river systems and irrigation methods were vital for the Abbasid Empire to thrive. After learning about the geography and agricultural techniques of the Golden Age, you’ll turn your attention to the link between agriculture and politics—and round out your study of water with a look at some beautiful gardens.

16: Jewish Scholar in Cairo: Moses Maimonides (31 min)

The 12th century Jewish scholar Moses Maimonides offers great insight into the relationship among the three Abrahamic religions—Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Delve into the politics of Cordoba in Andalusia, Spain, during the Golden Age, and then consider Maimonides’ scholarship—including his philosophy about the relationship between faith and reason.

17: The Banu Musa’s Inventions and Automatons (30 min)

From water fountains to self-playing musical instruments, the Golden Age saw an astounding amount of ingenuity. Take a look at a few of the era’s most interesting and delightful inventions and automations, and then examine the life and work of al-Jazari, who today is considered the “father of robotics.”

18: Mosques, Architecture, and Gothic Revival (32 min)

The development of architecture is a gradual process of shifting styles from one generation to the next, and the 500 years of the Islamic Golden Age gave the world striking advancements in both religious and military architecture. Here, tour the architecture of great mosques and arches, and see how the era influenced the later European Gothic Revival.

19: Arabic Verse, Love Poetry, and Wine Songs (30 min)

Examine the lives and work of three powerful poets: Abu Nuwas, Abu Tammam, and al-Mutanabbi. Reflect on the role of poetry in the Golden Age, including forms and subject matter, and examine the relationship between poetry and the multicultural world of the Abbasid Empire.

20: Medieval Mastermind: Avicenna (Ibn Sina) (31 min)

Ibn Sina—or Avicenna—is arguably the most important philosopher in Islamic history, as well as one of the most influential thinkers of all time. Find out what makes him such an important figure in the history of philosophy, and how he built on the tradition of Aristotle. Then shift your attention to his arguments in the realms of ontology and cosmology.

21: Entertaining in the Time of the Abbasids (30 min)

Shift your attention from the great minds of the Golden Age and find out how people of the time relaxed. As you learn about the era’s food and music cultures, you’ll uncover quite a few surprises—such as the origins of the traditional three-course meal. You’ll also discover that celebrity cookbooks promoting the latest dietary fad are not a modern invention.

22: Calligraphy, Carpets, and the Arabic Arts (32 min)

We’re all familiar with the geometric designs of the mythical flying carpets, but there is an astounding array of Islamic art from the period. Here is your chance to revel in the fine arts of the Islamic Golden Age, which in addition to geometric patterns, included stunning calligraphy, plant or vegetal designs, and figurative representations.

23: When Did the Islamic Golden Age End? (31 min)

Scholars conveniently cite the Mongolian sack of Baghdad in 1258 as the end of the Golden Age, but as you have seen in this course, the truth is more complex. Consider several reasons why the era came to an end—including outside invaders, shifting finances, changes in faith, and plain old human folly.

24: Ibn Khaldun on the Rise and Fall of Empire (34 min)

Conclude your survey of the Islamic Golden Age with a big-picture look at what followed, including the rise of the Ottoman Empire, the Black Death, and the emergence of gunpowder. While golden ages must inevitably subside, this final lecture gives you the opportunity to reflect on one of the most stunning eras in all of human history.