Factors that led to the Golden Ages for Muslims and Dark ages for Europeans
Instructions
Students will be placed in Groups of 4or 5
Every student will read all the sources see below (Source A – F)
The leader of the group will allocate students their tasks as below:
Your Final Product should be a presentation on Prezi or PowerPoint. Each student should use one
slide
Follow this structure for your Presentation for each students slide:
Name of Factor you are Exploring (Put your names in brackets)
One or two Points
2 Evidences ( Paraphrase and Direct quotes)
Explanation to show how your evidences support your point
Relevant Pictures/graphs etc. to support what you are saying
Everyone should submit the whole Power Point Presentation
Be ready to Present your Part either in class or on Flipgrid
Cultural factors- Student 1
Golden Age Dark ages
Focus Question: What was the culture of Focus Question: What was the culture of
learning in the Muslim world? learning in Western Europe?
Provide at least 2 evidence from the extract to Provide at least 1 evidence from the extract to
support your views support your views
Economic factors- student 2
Golden Age Dark ages
Focus Question: What were the economic factors Focus Question: Explore the economic
that led to age of learning, success and invention. factors that demotivated learning. Provide 1
Provide 2 evidence from the sources to support evidences from the sources to support your
your claims. claims
Social factors- student 3
Golden Age Dark ages
Focus Question; What were the social factors that Focus Question: What were the social
promoted learning, invention and success during the factors that discouraged learning?
Golden age? Provide 2 evidence from the sources to Provide 1 evidences to support your
support your claims claims
Religious- Student 4
Golden Ages Dark Ages
Focus Question: What role did Religion have in Focus Questions: What role did Religion play to
promoting learning and inventions? Provide 2 withhold learning and progression? Provide 1
evidences from the sources to support your evidence from the source to support your
claims. claim.
Political factors Student 5
Golden Ages Dark Ages
Focus Question:How did political factors play a Focus Question: To what extent Political
role in promoting invention and discovery during factors were a cause of lack of learning and
the Golden age? Provide 2 evidence from the discovery during the Dark ages? Provide 1
sources to support your claims. evidence from the source to support your
claim.
Source A
Extract from ISLAMIC CIVILIZATION: FACTORS BEHIND ITS GLORY AND DECLINE
The spirit of seeking knowledge:
According to the teaching of Quran: “Say: are those equal. Those who know and those who do not
know?” (Qur’an, 39:9). Obviously, the above ayah was asking question without providing an
answer, with the belief that human being is given fuculty intellect by Allah, that can help him to
reach logical conclusion. Indeed, rationally speaking, the answer of the above question is
negative, because there is no way to balance between the knowledgeable people and ignorant
individuals. Perhaps, most of the rulers of Banu Ummayah and the first two centuries of al-
‘Abbasiyyin dynasties realized the above Quranic question, as such, they were educated and
scholars. They encouraged learning and scientific enquiry and they used to spend on it generously
(the House of Wisdom) that was found by Harun Rashid was such an example that prove the
existence of the spirit of seeking knowledge in various dimensions.
http://ijbel.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/KLiISC_118.pdf
Source B
Extract from Wikipedia: causes of the Golden age of Islam
Government sponsorship[edit]
The Islamic Empire heavily patronized scholars. The money spent on the Translation
Movement for some translations is estimated to be equivalent to about twice the annual
research budget of the United Kingdom's Medical Research Council. The best scholars and
[19]
notable translators, such as Hunayn ibn Ishaq, had salaries that are estimated to be the
equivalent of professional athletes today. The House of Wisdom was a library established
[19]
in Abbasid-era Baghdad, Iraq by Caliph al-Mansur. [20]
Source C
Source D
Extract from : “Magic and Superstition in the European Dark Ages
“http://www.historyisnowmagazine.com/blog/2018/12/23/magic-and-superstition-in-the-
european-dark-ages#.X0D6LcgzbMU=
The pre-Enlightenment world was simultaneously both fascinating and frightening. People often ad
no choice but to rely on their imaginations to make sense of the myriad phenomena around them.
The result was a world where everything seemed magical; a place teeming with angels, demons,
fairies, and witches. Only through uncanny and sometimes ‘ridiculous’ superstitions did many
people of the Dark Ages (or Middle Ages or Medieval Period) in Europe try to make sense of their
world. Jamil Bakhtawar explains.
The Royal Touch
People often accepted that kings and queens, by virtue of their divine right to rule, had the power to
heal disease by their touch. One particular malady called scrofula, a tubercular inflammation of the
lymph glands in the neck, was believed to be healed when touched by a sovereign. This healing
was seen as validation of the monarch’s appointment from God. It was claimed that the first to
practice the healing touch was Edward the Confessor, ruler of England from 1042 to 1066.
Source E
Extract from ISLAMIC CIVILIZATION: FACTORS BEHIND ITS GLORY AND DECLINE
http://ijbel.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/KLiISC_118.pdf
Intellectual freedom:
Freeing human intellect from superstitions, as argued by Iqbal (2010) and existence of ijtihad and
productive creativity were some of the factors behind the rise of Islamic civilization. There was a
sense of teaching people to think critically and creatively (prohibition of imitation without sound
evidence). i.e research environment was so conducive and motivative, especially searching the
claim of revelation in the natural phenomenon and return to the revelation in case of any obstacle
or any hindrance in their study of physical world. The opening of Bait al- Hikmah by Harun al-
Rashid(al- abbasi) for research and innovative purpose was a such example that prove intellectual
freedom in the early stage of Islamic civilization
Source F
Extract :From Wikipedia, Social and cultural exchange in Al-Andalus, Yasir Qadhi - Our Prophet
(saw) said, 'Traveling is a type ... | Facebook
A Jew and a Muslim playing chess in 13th century al-Andalus.
Muslims, Christians, and Jews co-existed for over seven centuries in the Iberian Peninsula during
the era of Al-Andalus states. The degree to which the Christians and the Jews were tolerated by
their Muslim (predominantly Arab) rulers is a subject widely contested among historians. The
history of Al-Andalus indicates that Muslims, Christians, and Jews who lived within Al-Andalus had
relatively peaceful relations, with the exception of a few scattered revolts, and times of religious
persecution. The great amount of cultural and social interaction that took place between these
three distinct social and religious groups led to the creation of a unique and diverse culture that
continued to flourish even after the Reconquista.
Source G
Extract from ISLAMIC CIVILIZATION: FACTORS BEHIND ITS GLORY AND DECLINE
http://ijbel.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/KLiISC_118.pdf
Openness:
Openness here means ability to learn from human experience, regardless to people of different
races and ethnicities. Initially, Muslim civilization was a joint endeavor of Muslims from different
peoples and races. It was not the military power which enabled early Muslims to dominate half of
the world. It was their righteousness and their humanity. Moreover, the Muslims intermarried
freely with local people and became part of them.
Source H
Muslim slavery was not just economic Unlike the Western slave trade, slavery in Islam was not
wholly motivated by economics. In the west Slaves were only meant to make their owners
wealthy and there was no opportunity for them to learn
Source F
