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ISLAMISLAM1. POLITICAL ORGANIZATION

2. THE ECONOMY

The Islam economy was based on agriculture, stockbreeding, craftsmanship and trade.

2.1. AGRICULTURE

Agriculture was difficult in the Arabian Peninsula, since they could only grow in some places such

as oasis or shores. Arabian people were very concerned about droughts, that is why they invented new

technologies in order to obtain and transport water. Their most important improvements were the

waterwheel and irrigation canals.

Muslims' new irrigation technologies spread all over the conquered territories in order to grow

fruit trees and vegetables. Muslims introduced many Asian products such as rice, oranges, lemons,

watermelons, asparagus, artichokes, spinaches, aubergines and pomegranates.

2.2. STOCKBREEDING

Muslims were nomad shepherds and therefore they bred sheep and goats to obtain milk, meat,

wool and hide. Dromedaries were bred too because they were useful to transport goods.

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2.3. TRADE

Trade was the most important activity for Muslims' economy. They had a great commercial

experience thanks to their caravan routes. The main commercial route was The Silk Road.

Due to this route, Muslims obtained many Asian products: silk, wool, spices, colourings or pearls.

Besides they had more land routes in Africa, where they obtained gold, ivory and slaves. They maintained

commercial deals with European Christians.

The most important commercial cities were Damascus, Baghdad, Cairo, Alexandria, Fez and

Córdoba, and the currencies used were the dinar (gold), the dirhem (silver) and the feluso (copper).

3. AN UNEQUAL SOCIETY

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4. LIFE IN THE CITY

The Muslim population was basically an urban population. Cities had a great development due to

trade and craftsmanship.

The Muslim city had an irregular layout: its streets were narrow, even some of them were cul-de-

sac (or adarbe). We can distinguish three areas in a muslim city:

The medina was the area of the city inside walls. Most homes, the mosque and the souk

were located in the medina.

– The mosque was a religious building where Muslims uses to pray(book p. 12).

– The souk was the market. It was like the city heart. Muslim markets were full of life

and colors.

The “alcazar”, or the fortress, was the governor's home. It had its own walls an it was

separated from the medina. Inside the fortress there was a governor's garrison.

The “arrabal”, or the surrounding areas, was located outside the walls. They usually had a

cemetery and houses which did not fit in the medina. When the arrabal expanded, they walled

it and gave it a mosque and public services such us restrooms.

Muslim houses were peculiar: they barely had any window and if they had, they were small and

covered by lattices (celosias). Rooms were organized around a courtyard, which was the familiar centre,

and where there was usually a fountain located in it. Muslims loved gardening and they had many flowers

in their courtyard such as orange blossom.

MEDINA

MOSQUE

SOUK

ALCAZAR

ARRABAL

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5. ART & CULTURE

5.1.MUSLIM CULTURE

The main characteristic of Muslim culture was that they collected the knowledge and art of the all

nations conquered by them. For example, Aristotle's, Ptolomeus' or Archimedes' writings were

translated into Arabic language. Owing to that, a lot of ancient knowledge was saved and blended with

Persian, Chinese, Indian and Muslim's new contributions. Moreover a lot of mathematicial, botanical or

medical knowledge was handed down to us.

The most important literary work was One Thousand and One Nights.

5.2. MUSLIM ART

Muslim art barely had sculpture or paintings since the Koran forbids representing Muhammad,

human or animal's figures. Therefore the most important art manifestation was architecture and it was

mainly expressed in mosques and palaces.

– Palaces were surrounded by gardens and fountains. They had a private area for the caliph's

family and a public area where civil servants and ambassadors were received. The best

example of a Muslim palace is The Alhambra.

– Mosques (Book pag. 12)

Main characteristics of Muslim architecture

1. The indoors of a building was profusely decorated. The most repeated motifs were calligraphic

(usually The Koran's verses), vegetables motifs (called atauriques) and geometric (called “laceria”).

2. Buildings were built with poor materials such as bricks or plaster, however they covered the poor

walls with fine materials like wood or tiles.

Calligraphic motifs Vegetables motifs Geometric motifs

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3. Muslim architecture used many kinds of arch: round arch, round canted arch, foliated arch,

horseshoe arch...

4. Slender columns.

5. Regarding covers, they used domes and vaulted ceilings richly

decorated too.

By Cristina Sevilla