Life in the early Islamic world

Explores arts and culture in the early Islamic world, focusing on literature, calligraphy, architecture, weaving, textiles, metalware, pottery, carvings, and glassware. Includes color illustrations, biographical sketches, a map, a timeline, a glossary, and further resources.

Shows how trade and commerce spread with the conquests made by the early Islamic empires. Covers such topics as caravans; monetary systems; famous explorers and traders; interactions with the East and West; economical principles; and coinage. Includes color illustrations, biographical sketches, a map, a timeline, a glossary, and further resources.

Explores the scientific contributions of the early Islamic empires to science, medicine, and mathematics, including public hospitals, libraries, and universities; their achievements in mathematics and astronomy; the pursuit of alchemy; Arabic numbers; optics; music and musical instruments; and poetry and education.

Describes how the Muslim religion started, including the life of the Prophet Muhammad; the Hegira and Kaaba; caliphs; the split of the Sunni and Shi'a and the beliefs of both; Sufism; the Muslim calendar; key events that are remembered in Islam today; and the Hajj, or pilgrimage to Makkah.

Explores how early Islamic empires were governed. Topics explored include the caliphs, or spiritual leaders; tolerance of other religions; non-Muslims paying taxes not to be in the Muslim army; sultans, palaces, and palace life; Sharia law; kings and queens in India; tribes and clans in Arabia and Kashmir.

Explores the growth and spread of Muslim peoples from the early 600s to the end of the Ottoman Empire. Examines what allowed early Islamic empires to spread from the Middle East to the far corners of Asia and into Europe and what led to their eventual decline. Includes color illustrations and maps, a glossary, a timeline, and further reading sources.

Explores arts and culture in the early Islamic world, focusing on literature, calligraphy, architecture, weaving, textiles, metalware, pottery, carvings, and glassware. Includes color illustrations, biographical sketches, a map, a timeline, a glossary, and further resources.