Muslim countries frequently make headlines
for their attacks on freedom of expression, sexuality, education, or anything considered
pro-western. But few people know that Islam once embraced
these institutions, in a period of history scholars refer to as ‘the Golden Age’,
which notably coincided with the European Dark Ages. So what exactly was the Golden Age of Islam? Well, most historians understand the Islamic
Golden Age as a period of history under the Abbasid Dynasty, which ruled from the 8th
to 13th century. At the time, Islam was only about a century
old, and concentrated in the Arabian Peninsula, the Mediterranean, and North Africa. Once the Abbasids took over and formed a caliphate,
the capitol was moved to Baghdad, and Islam spread to other regions. The Abbasids were inspired by verses from
the Quran and Hadiths that emphasized the value of knowledge, rather than just religious
devotion, and they strongly pushed for advances in science, art, and commerce. One of the most unique features of the Islamic
Golden Age was its inclusivity. In Baghdad, the ruling caliph created a House
of Wisdom. Here, Christian and Jewish scholars were invited
to join their Muslim counterparts to share ideas, information and creative work, which
was all translated into Arabic. These scholars carried out a variety of state-funded
research projects, resulting in the islamic world’s first astronomical observatory and
one of the most detailed world maps of the time. The House of Wisdom also fostered a considerable
amount of scientific, philosophical, and scholarly works. Many Golden Age scholars put their studies
to practical use, particularly in the field of medicine and healthcare. Physicians and philosophers wrote medical
encyclopedias and textbooks that were used for centuries. One famous Persian physician was the first
to differentiate between smallpox and measles. By the 10th century, pharmacies were a staple
in most Muslim cities, and Hospitals stayed open 24 hours. This era even saw a sort-of universal health
care, as hospitals were forbidden to turn away the poor. The period also gave way to some of the world’s
first universities, as well as countless works of art, including architecture, literature
and poetry. The golden age also saw the foundation of
Sufism, which is a mystical Islamic philosophy that promotes peace, education and philanthropy. Millions of people still adhere to Sufism,
and the practice has been promoted as an alternative to radical forms of Islam. Most historians mark the 13th century as the
end of the Golden Age, when Genghis Khan and his Mongol army conquered much of East Asia,
including the Islamic Caliphate. In 1258, the Mongols destroyed Baghdad and
the House of Wisdom, anecdotally throwing so many books into the Tigris River that it
ran black with ink. The Caliphate was completely demolished. Had history played out differently, there’s
no telling what Islam would look like today.
