The Islamic Golden Age and The House of Wisdom DOCUMENTARY

Summary

This video script explores the Islamic Golden Age, a period of remarkable intellectual and cultural achievements that significantly advanced human knowledge. It discusses the rise of the Islamic empire, the House of Wisdom in Baghdad, and the translation movement that preserved and expanded ancient knowledge. The script highlights the era's contributions to science, mathematics, and philosophy, and the decline due to political and economic challenges.

Takeaways

• 🕋 The Islamic Golden Age was a period of significant cultural, scientific, and intellectual advancement during the Middle Ages.
• 🌟 The achievements of this era have had a lasting impact, influencing our modern numeral system, vocabulary, and astronomical knowledge.
• 📚 The House of Wisdom in Baghdad was a pivotal institution during the Golden Age, serving as a hub for learning and translation of texts.
• 🌐 The Islamic empire's expansion led to a policy of tolerance and incorporation of various ethnicities and religions, fostering a diverse and inclusive scholarly environment.
• 📖 The Arabic translation movement was instrumental in preserving ancient knowledge and creating new scholarly works by translating texts from Greek, Roman, Persian, Indian, and Chinese sources.
• 🏛️ The Abbasid Caliphate played a crucial role in supporting and expanding educational and scientific institutions, including the House of Wisdom.
• 📚 Madrasahs, or schools of higher education, became widespread and were central to the dissemination of knowledge during the Islamic Golden Age.
• 🔭 Scholars of the Islamic Golden Age made significant contributions to various fields including mathematics, astronomy, medicine, and philosophy.
• 🌍 The Islamic Golden Age saw a high level of literacy and a universal approach to religion, which contrasted with the more insular religious practices of earlier times.
• 📉 The decline of the Islamic Golden Age is often marked by the Mongol invasion of 1258, which disrupted the intellectual and cultural environment that had flourished for centuries.

Q & A

What is the Islamic Golden Age and why is it significant?

The Islamic Golden Age refers to a period in history, particularly during the Middle Ages, characterized by significant advancements in various fields of knowledge, including science, mathematics, and philosophy. It is significant because it served as a beacon of progress and its achievements, such as the development of the numeral system and the concept of algebra, have greatly influenced modern society.

What is the role of the House of Wisdom in the Islamic Golden Age?

The House of Wisdom was a central hub for learning and translation in Baghdad during the Islamic Golden Age. It played a crucial role in preserving and advancing knowledge by translating works from various cultures into Arabic, fostering an environment of intellectual growth and scientific discovery.

How did the Abbasid Caliphate contribute to the Islamic Golden Age?

The Abbasid Caliphate, particularly under the rule of Caliph Al-Ma'mun, greatly contributed to the Islamic Golden Age by supporting scholarly activities, establishing the House of Wisdom, and promoting the translation of scientific and philosophical texts from various cultures into Arabic.

What was the policy towards non-Muslims within the Islamic Empire during the Golden Age?

The Islamic Empire during the Golden Age adopted a policy of relative tolerance towards non-Muslims. It was not a case of 'convert or die' but rather resembled Roman tolerance, allowing for a diverse population of ethnicities and religions to coexist and contribute to the empire's cultural and scientific advancements.

What was the impact of the Abbasid Revolution on the Islamic Empire?

The Abbasid Revolution led to a significant restructuring of the power balance within the Islamic Empire. It resulted in a more equitable sharing of the empire's resources and opportunities across a broader coalition of subjects, transforming Islam from an insular religion for the Arabs to a universal world religion and fostering an environment of openness to ideas.

Who was Al-Khwarizmi and what is his contribution to mathematics?

Al-Khwarizmi was a prominent scholar during the Islamic Golden Age, known as the 'Father of Algebra.' His work, 'The Compendious Book on Calculation by Completion and Balancing,' was instrumental in the development of algebra and was used as a principal mathematics textbook in Europe until the 16th century.

What was the significance of the translation movement in the Islamic Golden Age?

The translation movement was significant as it facilitated the preservation and dissemination of knowledge from various cultures, including Greek, Roman, Persian, Indian, and Chinese texts. This movement not only translated but also critically analyzed and built upon these works, leading to new advancements in various fields.

How did the madrasahs function during the Islamic Golden Age?

Madrasahs during the Islamic Golden Age were schools of higher education that taught religious subjects as well as various sciences. They were often funded by private or public sources and grew rapidly in number and scale, contributing to the high literacy rate of the era.

What were the factors that led to the decline of the Islamic Golden Age?

The decline of the Islamic Golden Age was influenced by several factors, including the Mongol invasion and sack of Baghdad in 1258, which destroyed the House of Wisdom. Additionally, economic and political instability, as well as a shift towards closed-minded dogmatism, contributed to the decline of the intellectual and scientific advancements of the era.

What is the significance of the Canon of Medicine by Ibn Sina?

The Canon of Medicine by Ibn Sina, also known as Avicenna in the West, was a comprehensive medical encyclopedia that became a standard text at many medieval universities for nearly seven hundred years, reflecting the advanced state of medical knowledge during the Islamic Golden Age.

How did the Islamic Golden Age influence the development of Western knowledge?

The Islamic Golden Age had a profound influence on the development of Western knowledge by preserving and expanding upon the works of ancient Greek, Roman, and other civilizations. The translations and commentaries produced during this period laid the foundation for the European Renaissance and the modern scientific method.

Outlines

00:00

🌟 The Islamic Golden Age: A Beacon of Progress

The Islamic Golden Age is highlighted as a period of significant advancement in human knowledge during the Middle Ages. It is noted for its influence on our current numeral system, vocabulary in fields like algebra, and the naming of celestial bodies. The script aims to provide a broader perspective on the Islamic world beyond modern media portrayals, setting the stage for a discussion on the rise of the Islamic empire and the House of Wisdom in Baghdad. The video is sponsored by a game called 'Conquerors Blade,' which is briefly described. The historical context begins with the revelations of the Quran by Prophet Mohammed in 610 AD and the subsequent expansion of the Islamic empire under the Caliphate, leading to a period of peace and prosperity that fostered an environment for intellectual growth and the exchange of ideas.

05:01

🏛 The Rise of the Abbasids and the House of Wisdom

The Abbasids' rise to power marked the beginning of the Islamic Golden Age and the establishment of the House of Wisdom. The Abbasids emerged from a revolt against the Umayyads, leading to a more equitable sharing of power across the empire. This era was characterized by an openness to ideas from various regions, leading to a cultural and scientific renaissance. The new capital, Baghdad, was commissioned in 762 and quickly became a cosmopolitan center of learning, attracting scholars and igniting the translation movement. The city's growth was accompanied by the rise of educational institutions like madrasahs, which contributed to the high literacy rate of the time. The House of Wisdom, under the patronage of the Abbasid caliphs, became a central hub for scholars, representing the pinnacle of intellectual achievement during this period.

10:02

📚 The House of Wisdom: A Nexus of Knowledge

The House of Wisdom was a well-funded and centralized institution for learning, which may have been a single entity or a network of institutions. It was a place of great scholarly activity, including the translation of important works from various cultures into Arabic. The translation process was meticulous, requiring expertise to ensure accurate interpretation and integration of knowledge. Scholars at the House of Wisdom contributed to a vast array of subjects, from medicine and mathematics to astronomy and philosophy. The institution was inclusive, employing individuals of diverse ethnicities and faiths, and was a melting pot of languages and ideas. The House of Wisdom was instrumental in preserving and advancing knowledge, with its scholars producing influential works that would shape the course of history.

15:04

🔭 The Legacy of the Islamic Golden Age and Its Scholars

The Islamic Golden Age was marked by the contributions of numerous scholars who advanced various fields of study. Figures like Hunayn ibn Ishaq, known for translating Greek medical texts and writing the first ophthalmology textbook, and Al-Khwarizmi, who authored influential works on algebra and arithmetic, played pivotal roles. Other scholars, such as Al-Farabi, made significant strides in philosophy and cryptography, while Avicenna's 'Canon of Medicine' became a standard medical text for centuries. The period was also known for its advancements in surgery, statistics, engineering, and geography. However, the Golden Age eventually declined due to external invasions and internal challenges, leading to a shift away from the openness and progress that characterized the era. Despite this, the legacy of the Islamic Golden Age continues to influence modern science and culture.

Keywords

💡Islamic Golden Age

The Islamic Golden Age refers to a period in history, particularly between the 8th and 14th centuries, during which there was a significant flourishing of science, art, and culture in the Islamic world. This era is characterized by the advancement of human knowledge in various fields and is crucial to the video's theme as it sets the historical context for the achievements and developments discussed.

💡House of Wisdom

The House of Wisdom was a major intellectual center in Baghdad during the Abbasid Caliphate, known for its translation and scholarly activities. It is a key concept in the video as it represents the pinnacle of the Islamic Golden Age's commitment to learning and the dissemination of knowledge, serving as a hub for scholars from diverse backgrounds.

💡Al-Khwarizmi

Al-Khwarizmi, known as the father of algebra, was a prominent scholar during the Islamic Golden Age. His work significantly contributed to the development of mathematics and is a central figure in the video's narrative, illustrating the intellectual achievements of the period through his influential book on calculations and the concept of algorithm.

💡Al-Razi

Al-Razi, also known in the West as Rhazes, was a Persian polymath whose contributions spanned various fields, including medicine, alchemy, and philosophy. His 'Canon of Medicine' was particularly influential, serving as a standard medical text for centuries. Al-Razi exemplifies the breadth of knowledge and the multidisciplinary approach characteristic of the Islamic Golden Age.

💡Al-Farabi

Al-Farabi, known as the 'Second Teacher' after Aristotle, was a philosopher who integrated Greek philosophy with Islamic thought. His work in philosophy and other subjects like astronomy and medicine reflects the video's theme of intellectual synthesis and the cross-pollination of ideas during the Islamic Golden Age.

💡Translation Movement

The Translation Movement was an initiative to translate and disseminate knowledge from various cultures into Arabic, playing a vital role in preserving and expanding human knowledge. It is a key concept in the video, illustrating the Islamic Golden Age's openness to learning and the importance of cultural exchange in advancing science and philosophy.

💡Caliphate

The Caliphate refers to the Islamic state led by a Caliph, the religious and political successor to the Prophet Muhammad. The Abbasid Caliphate, in particular, is highlighted in the video for its support of intellectual pursuits and its role in fostering the Golden Age of Islam.

💡Al-Ma'mun

Al-Ma'mun was the seventh Abbasid Caliph known for his patronage of learning and the construction of the House of Wisdom. His name is associated with the video's theme as a symbol of the Islamic Golden Age's commitment to knowledge and scientific inquiry.

💡Madrasah

A madrasah is an educational institution that emerged during the Islamic Golden Age, teaching religious and secular subjects. The video mentions madrasahs as part of the broader educational landscape that contributed to the high literacy rate and intellectual fervor of the period.

💡Al-Biruni

Al-Biruni was a scholar who made significant contributions to various fields, including geography, astronomy, and mathematics. His work on calculating the Earth's radius exemplifies the empirical approach and scientific advancements of the Islamic Golden Age, as discussed in the video.

💡Mongol Sack of Baghdad

The Mongol Sack of Baghdad in 1258 marked a devastating event that led to the decline of the Islamic Golden Age. The video uses this historical event to illustrate the end of the period of intellectual and cultural flourishing, highlighting the vulnerability of knowledge centers to political and military upheavals.

Highlights

The Islamic Golden Age was a beacon of progress during the Middle Ages, greatly advancing human knowledge.

The achievements of the Islamic Golden Age are evident in our numeral system, words like 'algebra', 'algorithm', and in the names of stars.

Modern perceptions have stifled interest in the rich history of the Islamic world.

The rise of the Islamic Empire and the House of Wisdom in Baghdad are key to understanding the Golden Age.

The Arabic translation movement was initiated in the 7th century, translating vast amounts of knowledge into Arabic.

The Abbasids expanded the translation movement, including works on medicine, mathematics, and astronomy.

The Abbasid Caliphate marked the Golden Age of Islam, with a new openness to ideas from across the empire.

The founding of Baghdad as the new capital in 762 signified a shift towards Persian influence within the empire.

Baghdad became a cosmopolitan city, attracting scholars and igniting the translation movement.

Madrasahs, or schools of higher education, spread across the empire, teaching a wide range of scientific and religious subjects.

The House of Wisdom was a well-funded, centralized hub for learning in Baghdad.

The House of Wisdom included scholars of various ethnicities and faiths, promoting inclusivity and collaboration.

Translation and commentary work at the House of Wisdom preserved and expanded upon ancient knowledge.

Scholars like Hunayn ibn Ishaq, known as the 'Sheikh of the Translators', reproduced significant Greek medical texts.

Al-Khwarizmi, known as the father of algebra, developed the Hindu-Arabic numeral system and contributed to trigonometry.

Ibn Sina, known in the West as Avicenna, wrote the 'Canon of Medicine', a standard medical text for centuries.

The Islamic Golden Age saw advancements in various fields including surgery, statistics, water engineering, and geography.

The Mongol sack of Baghdad in 1258 marked the end of the Islamic Golden Age, but its legacy continued to influence future generations.

Transcripts

the Islamic Golden Age is a critical

moment in history which served as a

bright beacon of progress in the Middle

Ages and whose achievements greatly

advanced the frontiers of human

knowledge it's long reach still

manifests all around us in the form of

our numeral system our words like

algebra algorithm and Almanac and in the

names of the stars in the night sky

unfortunately much of this goes

unnoticed has modern perceptions of the

Islamic world have greatly stifled

interest in its rich history today I

wanted to offer viewers a different

perspective than the one depicted on

24-hour news broadcasts in order to do

so we shall provide context for the rise

of the Islamic empire before discussing

the Golden Age and its crown jewel the

House of Wisdom in Baghdad before we

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Mohammed had first begun to share the

revelation of the Quran in 610 ad in his

home town of Mecca before being forced

to flee to Medina in 622 from here the

Prophet played a significant hand in the

geopolitics of the region which helped

spread the reach of his message and his

followers with an attacker Muhammad's

forces to feed their local rivals in

Mecca and in short order were able to

consolidate their power in the Arabian

Peninsula upon Muhammad's death in 632

control of the emerging Empire

pass into the hands of various

successors who held the title of Caleb

the first four rulers formed the

rashidun caliphate they were deeply

impactful and led the charge of the

empire out of the Arabian Peninsula and

into the wider world of a Mediterranean

here they struck down the armies of the

exhausted Byzantines and sassanids to

take control of the Levant Egypt

Mesopotamia Persia and Anatolia the

Sassanid Empire collapsed completely

while the Byzantines managed to retreat

and barely held on the momentum of the

Islamic expansion slowed down in mid 7th

century but quickly resumed with the

rise of the Maya killers who pushed the

borders of the Empire all the way to the

Indus in the East and Iberia in the West

while the edges of the expanding Islamic

empire were as bloody and destructive as

one might expect from any other rising

power at the time the territory within

the Empire proved far more peaceful and

prosperous after all the area that was

coming under the control of the caliphs

had long been fertile economic cultural

and scientific ground for many previous

rulers by breaking down existing

fractured realms and reforming them

under one domain an incredible amount of

new opportunities opened up as dan

Carlin might put it this creative

destruction was clearing out the old

forests to make room for a new one to

rise from its ashes one of the important

features of the Islamic conquests was

that the rapid expansion had

necessitated a policy of leniency when

it came to incorporating the vast

domains of the Kiev's which were filled

with all kinds of people from varying

ethnicities and religions Islamic rule

was therefore not a case of convert or

die at sword point and instead resembled

something more along the lines of Roman

tolerance and fair governing Islam still

played a large role in the Empire but

was envisioned as something uniquely for

the Arabs who existed as a sort of

military caste above their subjects in

fact the ruling class would put in place

many measures to set Muslim Arabs apart

as their own preferred group yet even

this group did not isolate itself

entirely as Outsiders they were keenly

aware that they had much to learn and

adopted a surprising degree of openness

and flexibility one of the greatest

manifestations of this mindset was the

Arabic translation movement gaining real

momentum in the 7th century under the

Umayyads the movement was a white

attempt to translate greek roman persian

indian chinese and other written stores

of knowledge into arabic this frenzied

activity saw countless ancient texts

brought together for the first time in

history their contents not merely

translated but compared discussed

critiqued and disseminated these

scholarly efforts were critical in

protecting previous works that might

have been lost to the ages and produced

much that was new the alliance focus

their attention in many practical

subjects commissioning works on medicine

mathematics and astronomy however it

would be the succeeding of Bassets who

greatly increased the scope and scale of

these endeavors delving deeper into the

sciences whilst also exploring the

diverse fields of art and philosophy the

rule of his third Caliphate would bring

about the Golden Age of Islam and Birth

the House of Wisdom the opposites

emerged as victors from one of the many

revolts against the ruling minds in the

mid 80s in Cheree the unrest had many

contributing factors but was largely

driven by a desire to overthrow the

current system which almost exclusively

favored the minority group of Muslim

Arabs some examples of common grievances

included the monetization of both

government and military bureaucracies as

well as discriminatory regulations on

marriage housing and taxation where

other revolts were defeated the app

assets found

stunning success through careful

planning propaganda secrecy and decisive

action in fact theirs would prove to be

one of the most successful revolutions

of the era the impact of the uprising

was significant in that it restructured

the power balance of the Empire no

longer were the Muslim Arabs to soul

masters of the realm now the fruits of

the Caliphate were shared more equitably

across the empire by a broader coalition

of nearly enfranchised subjects

thanks to this easing of social

restrictions Islam was transformed from

an insular religion for the Arabs to a

universal world of religion this in turn

led to a new openness to ideas from

across the Empire regardless of their

geographic origin as had occurred

previously following the conquests of

Alexander the Great a huge cultural and

scientific exchange was unleashed across

the east and the West

this was the Islamic Golden Age to

commemorate their new world order the

abbasids founded the brand-new capital

of batad commissioned on 30th of July

762 by the key

al-mansour it was located just 30

kilometers from the ancient Persian

capital of Tessa fond and commanded

strategic control of both the

surrounding fertile river plain and

trade routes it's placement was a

reflection of the more Eastern focus of

the Ambassador who increasingly adopt

all things Persian built in just four

years but that was a marvel of

construction and surely deserves its

very own video suffice to say it proved

to be the beating heart of the Islamic

empire and one of the jewels of the

ancient world which rivaled the greatest

cities of Europe under elements whose

careful Direction Baghdad experienced a

meteoric rise and quickly became a

bustling cosmopolitan city this activity

attracted some of the brightest minds of

the Middle Ages and ignited the

translation movement which had

previously began under demise and was

just now adopting papermaking from the

Chinese to quote professor Ammann Garin

the talented Arabs Jews Christians and

other specialists from the Middle East

and beyond all contributing the quantity

and the variety of works translated

during this period or staggering this

included books on algebra geometry

metaphysics logic and endless treatises

on astronomy and astrology it said that

on one occasion when the caliph al

Mamoon sent a mission to bring text back

from rasa or northern Persia the camel

caravan that marched into Baghdad

consisted of a hundred animals just to

carry the manuscripts this must have

been a truly magnificent sight to behold

especially given the contrast in Europe

where centers of learning were being

abandoned or pillaged creative energy

soon bubbled up not just in Baghdad but

across the whole empire on the primary

focal point were the schools of higher

education known as madrasahs these had

first started as mosques that Tod

religious law and practical skills but

which were soon swept up in the

Enlightenment fervor of the era within a

century funding from private or public

sources such as Vox allowed them to

quickly grow in scope and scale in a

short matter of time virtually all major

towns had at least one madrasah while

larger cities might have had hundreds of

them alongside other educational centers

such as libraries functioning as early

proto universities these mattresses

taught religious subjects in addition to

the rash

Sciences which included subjects as

varied as mathematics astronomy

astrology geography alchemy philosophy

and occultism depending on the

curriculum of the specific institution

in question such was the demand for

these institutions that the scholars and

translators could now make a reliable

living and academic life was seen as a

symbol of status knowledge itself became

so highly prized that the acquisition of

ancient texts even came to be considered

a valuable wartime plunder comparable to

gold for instance one of the peace

treaties signed between the ambassadors

and the Byzantines stipulated the

ptolemies Almagest must be handed over

as a part of the exchange the greater

ramifications of this society wide

embrace of learning was that the

Caliphate of the Islamic Golden Age

boasted the highest literacy rate of the

Middle Ages while the model system did a

great job

educating the public the more serious

scientific advances were carried out by

scholars working within major urban

centres under the patronage of Abbasid

Nobles it is therefore in the capital of

behad under the direct sponsorship of

the caliphs that the greatest hub of

learning would emerge the speaking of

the Islamic Golden Age would be known as

battle hikmah the House of Wisdom the

House of Wisdom had its origins in the

founding of batad during construction

the caliph al-mansur

added a library to his palace providing

economic and political support to the

scholars who worked there

successive caliphs would maintain and

expand this institution for instance the

fifth Abbasid ruler Harun al-rashid

is noted for adding his own storehouse

of the books of wisdom however it would

be the seventh caliph al Mamoon

who truly left his mark he ordered the

construction of new wings dedicated to

each branch of science in addition to

building brand new study centers and

even a state-of-the-art observatory in

829 quite the scholar himself the Caliph

lavished such support and attention on

the center of learning that today he is

credited as the founder of the famed

house of wisdom so what was the house of

wisdom basically it was a well-funded

centralized hub for learning however I

know that the exact nature of that hub

is subject to debate very little

physical evidence remains today and we

are left guessing as to whether the

House of Wisdom was a single entity or a

web of institutions spread across

Baghdad regardless of the distinction

it is clear that the scholarly community

greatly benefited from the synergistic

environment which evolved into something

comparable to that of our own university

towns so who worked at the House of

Wisdom

well for starters there would have been

a large body of scholars made up of

various specialists and their students

this group would in turn have its own

administrators and support staff which

included its scribes translators

archivists guards chefs and sweepers

these positions would have been filled

by men and women of many ethnicities and

faiths from across the Empire and beyond

Persians featured prominently in their

ranks and even Christians occupied

important roles in the House of Wisdom

walking through the halls you would have

heard a huge number of different

languages including Arabic Farsi aramaic

hebrew syriac greek and latin it was

truly a remarkably inclusive endeavor

what did they accomplish one of the main

activities taking place in the House of

Wisdom was the translation of works into

Arabic such as writings of Greek

philosophers Roman doctors Persian

astronomers and indian mathematicians

this was no simple matter just

translating the text word for word

requires an expertise in the subject

matter to properly interpret the

material such was the value of this work

that under the Caliph al Mamoon it was

reported that experts could expect to

receive payment equivalent to their

books weight in gold however things did

not stop there once in Arabic countless

scholars would pour over the material

comparing it with other works debating

its merits amongst their peers and

injecting their own learned opinion in

this way hundreds of years of

commentaries and revisions would be

added to the translated text on top of

this new research and experimentation

was taking place in centers such as the

great observatory of ba Dada

the result was that wild light of

civilization may have dimmed in the West

with the fall of the Roman Empire it

roared with life in the East and led

mankind into the future now let's take a

closer look at some of those incredible

achievements coming out of the House of

Wisdom and the Islamic Golden Age the

first leader of the House of Wisdom was

the Christian who anonymous hawk dubbed

as the Sheikh of the translators he

reproduced 116 works including the

entire collection of Greek medical books

and great texts

Apollonius Archimedes Euclid and Ptolemy

as an excellent physician and surgeon he

also wrote some of his own material such

as the 10 treatises of Ophthalmology

which was the first textbook of its kind

to explain the anatomy of the I along

with its diseases symptoms and

treatments in a systemic and detailed

way well what is me another leader of

the House of Wisdom produced important

works in mathematics astronomy and

geography known as the father of algebra

his treatise entitled the compendious

book on calculations by completion and

balancing would be used as the principal

mathematics textbook in Europe until the

16th century his second most influential

work on arithmetic using hindu-arabic

numerals revolutionized the manipulation

of numbers and gave rise to the term

algorithm in addition he contributed

significantly to the development of

trigonometry and geography building upon

world maps by calculating the precise

latitudes of various cities al-kindi

remembered that the father of our

philosophy delved deep into the writings

of Hellenistic thinkers and successfully

incorporated Aristotelian and

neo-platonist thought into an Islamic

philosophical framework he is also noted

for his 230 works in many other subjects

such as astronomy optics medicine

chemistry and mathematics however one of

his most interesting and influential

books would be entitled the manuscript

on deciphering cryptographic messages

which earned him recognition as one of

the fathers of cryptography eben Cena

known to the West as Hasina was another

Titan of his time without 450 published

works covering topics such as astronomy

alchemy geography geology psychology

theology logic mathematics physics and

poetry his most famous book is the Canon

of Medicine a medical encyclopedia which

became a standard text at many medieval

universities for nearly seven hundred

years there are countless more such

figures we could list off Alda Harvey

the father surgery fab nagura the

founder of statistics is my eldest ari

who engineered intricate water pumps and

automated clocks al-biruni who

calculated the radius of the earth to

within several kilometers and many more

not

even mentioned the many fantastic

artists poets musicians and architects

of the period the end of the Islamic

Golden Age sadly after nearly 500 years

the Islamic Golden Age would draw to a

close many scholars placed the state in

1258 with the Mongol sack of behad which

destroyed the city along with the House

of Wisdom

while this undeniably traumatic event

greatly setback the Islamic world much

of the era's momentum continued to

propel it forward however in the long

run these sorts of attacks did begin to

take their toll Muslim leaders

increasingly found themselves in

troubled economic and political waters

which made it difficult to maintain the

thriving environment of the Golden Age

turning more to military matters and

warned us of the outside influence led

to a decline in the openness of sciences

and a turn inwards to more closed-minded

dogmatism I hope you've enjoyed this

video and the amazing history of the

Islamic world that so often goes

unappreciated in the modern media for

more great content definitely check out

the channel alma-tadema

which does an amazing job bringing this

history to life see you next time a huge

thanks is owed to our supporters on

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