Islamic Civilization

The Islamic World expansion, 622-750.  

Bernard Lewis wrote that Islamic governments inherited: The knowledge and skills of the ancient Middle East, of Greece and of Persia. They added new and important innovations from outside, such as the manufacture of paper from China and decimal positional numbering from India. Much of this learning and development can be linked to geography. Even prior to Islam's presence, the city of Mecca served as a center of trade in Arabia and Muhammad was a merchant. The tradition of the pilgrimage to Mecca became a center for exchanging ideas and goods. The influence held by Muslim merchants over African-Arabian and Arabian-Asian trade routes was tremendous. As a result, Islamic civilization grew and expanded on the basis of its merchant economy, in contrast to their Christian, Indian and Chinese peers who built societies from an agricultural landholding nobility. Merchants brought goods and their faith to China resulting in a significant population of Chinese Muslims with an estimated 37 million followers, mainly ethnic Turkic Uyghur whose territory was annexed to China, India, southeast Asia, and the kingdoms of western Africa and returned with new inventions.

ISLAMIC ART

                                         Marquetry and tile-top table from the year 1560.

DEVELOPMENT IN SCIENCE AND MEDICINE

A manuscript written during the Abbasid Era. Girih tiles arranged in Quasicrystal order is an example of the advancements that had taken place in the Islamic Golden Age. Many notable Islamic scientists lived and practiced during the Islamic Golden Age. Among the achievements of Muslim scholars during this period were the development of trigonometry into its modern form simplifying its practical application to calculate the phases of the moon, advances in optics, and advances in astronomy. The eye according to Hunain ibn Ishaq. From a manuscript dated circa 1200. Medicine was a central part of medieval Islamic culture. Responding to circumstances of time and place, Islamic physicians and scholars developed a large and complex medical literature exploring and synthesizing the theory and practice of medicine.

 Islamic medicine was built on tradition, chiefly the theoretical and practical knowledge developed in Greece, Rome, and Persia. For Islamic scholars, Galen and Hippocrates were pre-eminent authorities, followed by Hellenic scholars in Alexandria. Islamic scholars translated their voluminous writings from Greek into Arabic and then produced new medical knowledge based on those texts. In order to make the Greek tradition more accessible, understandable, and teachable, Islamic scholars ordered and made more systematic the vast and sometimes inconsistent Greco-Roman medical knowledge by writing encyclopaedias and summaries. (from the National Library of Medicine digital archives)

Pagan Latin and Greek learning was viewed suspiciously in Christian early medieval Europe, and it was through 12th century Arabic translations that medieval Europe rediscovered Hellenic medicine, including the works of Galen and Hippocrates. Of equal if not of greater influence in Western Europe were systematic and comprehensive works such as Avicenna's The Canon of Medicine, which were translated into Latin and then disseminated in manuscript and printed form throughout Europe. During the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries alone, The Canon of Medicine was published more than thirty-five times. In the medieval Islamic world, hospitals were built in all major cities; in Cairo for example, the Qalawun hospital had a staff that included physicians, pharmacists, and nurses.

Indus Civilization

INDUS CIVILIZATIOn

This civilization existed between the years 2500-1800 SM. This period experienced the collapse of the Indus civilization. It is associated with the coming of the Aryans who brought a new level of culture and society Indus . This stage is known as the Vedic Age. Vedic era was the beginning of religious life for the community because at the time that the birth of Hinduism. Upon some time rooted in the Indus Valley, by the seventh century BC, the people turned to the attentionn of the Ganges Valley.

At this time there was the ruling of the raja. There were two forms of government, namely Janapada or small government or big government mahajanapada. Chandragupta Maurya under the rule, small governments was consolidated. In the year 321 S.M. was born the first empire in India. This happened during the reign of the Maurya Dynasty across north India have been consolidated. The dynasty reached its peak during the reign of Asoka glory.

             

LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE

In the early stages of formation, Indus civilization has two forms of government, a small government and big government. Small government is sectarian attitude with no king. Whereas big government is ruled by the king, example are the government Kashi, Kosala, and Magadha.

In this civilization, the king has absolute power practice. Person's position is then strengthened with various forms of rituals based on the belief that a king is sacred and should be respected. Brahmins who acted as advisers play an important role and this was followed by the Kryatria which is the highest government and is the dominant group.

Maurya Chandragupta  empire formed by combining smaller governments in this India. Issue  change the status of the king to the emperor. Mauryameliputi  Empire Bay of Bengal to the Hindu Kush Mountains. Its capital is located in Paliputra. Maurya Dynasty was the golden age during the reign of Emperor Asoka. Asoka have completed the civil war and conquered Kalinga War. Asoka is more concern and focuses on peace and social progress, he then carry out the conquest through the dissemination of Buddhism and not through the military.

ECONOMY DEVELOPMENT

Among the important trading center including Anga, Kalinga, and the production of  Karusa weapons, ivory, gold, diamonds and pearls. They have a very strong trade relationship with Macedonia, Sri Lanka, Central Asia and Southeast Asia. Among the important port that connects India with foreign countries, including Tamralipti, Ghantashala, and Kadura in the east, and Broach, Chaul, Kalyan, and Cambay in the west.

The rapid development of economic sectors have spurred the existence of trade associations and enterprises, known as Stresthin in each city. The aim of the Society is to control the price, product quality, and salaries of employees. Laws were enacted to regulate the association and the implementation of the law has been monitored king. Currency has been used as a selling medium. During Gupta period, the form of gold coins were used. The use of currency in the process of this transaction has prove that the government in the Indian civilization such as Maurya and Gupta dynasties had implemented a policy of systematic financial and economic. Trading activity since the Great Maurya is supported by the growth in production, especially industrial textiles, cotton and silk.

EDUCATION

Development  in the field of education began in the early of Vedik stage. Education at this age are very concerned in the issues about religious and Hindu become the main idea .besides that education  at this age is dominated by the men. Women at that time did not have room to receive an education. Education focusing on learning the books of the Vedas and the Sanskrit language is the medium of instruction which is seen as very important. Memorization method is the method used to explore the Vedic scriptures.

Education that is based on Hinduism and Buddhism is to provide a human face day after death. The focus of education is religion. All the rules of hindhu should be studied so that they can live well with the values ​​taught by Hinduism. Higher education was given at the College of Brahman. For  attained its status as educated Brahmin pliers, one must memorize the various religious books, especially the Vedas, which contain the rules of ritual, mantra, and religious songs.
    

                                                             PHILOSOPHY

Philosophy exists in two major forms of thought, which is derived from the group. All the contents are found in Veda.  Veda consists of the Rig Veda, Yajur Veda, Sama Veda and Atharva Veda. Upanishads, Mahabharata, and Bhagavad Gita is one of the resources found in the Vedic philosophy. While philosophy is not derived from the teachings of the Vedas flow Carvaka, Jainismedan Buddhism.

                                                
                                               SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Science and technology is a branch of Vedic knowledge. Knowledge of astronomy can be extracted from the Rig Veda. Mathematical civilization existed in India and growing as pest in the Gupta period. Indian mathematicians knew about geometry concepts and have introduced the numerical systems, as example numbers and figures Kharosti System. Brahmin figures were also present in the Greek civilization, which developed due to medical herodianicionic. This field has lead to the focus of society in physiology because of its association with yoga.                                                    
                                                         ARCHITECTURE

Society has been able to build very well. It can be seen in the buildings that is build  at Great Bath building. Since the Indian community living very closely associated with religion, then the field of religious architecture also expands. Therefore, based on construction are looked at Buddhism and Hindu point of view. Among impressive building complex includes the construction of the temple at Ajanta Caves. The complex has 20 temples. Meanwhile  Ellora Caves temple complex also has 28 caves and temples built between the fifth century until the eighth century AD.

                                                               Ajanta Caves.

LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE

Group of Dravidian and Indo-Aryan has a different culture and language. For people Dravidian language of southern India are as Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada and many others. Language  in the early Vedic Sanskrit is the language that is being use for many centuries.

Indian civilization also produced literature. Hinduism and Buddhism, are among them which is known as the epic Mahabharata and Ramayana. Mahabharata tells the battle between two armies, which is good and evil. Ramayana is the story of the incarnation of god Vishnu as Rama and Sri Lanka battle with the king who kidnapped Rama’s wife, Sita.

SOCIAL SYSTEM

In Indian civilization, one of the important things that need attention in the social system is the existence of caste system. This system is an institution that is very unique and not found in any other world civilization. This system has four main castes, the Brahmins, Ksyatria, Vaisya and Sudra. These four castes have different responsibilities and different point of view. This caste system is known to be the flesh and blood to the Indian social system and the system is followed closely. Based on this system, others, a man cannot marry women from different castes and cannot mix with members of different castes. But this caste system is no longer applied in the 21^st century.

HINDU RELIGION

This religion believes that God has six streams, namely Saivism, Vaishnavisme, Saktham, Ganapathyam, Kaumaramdan and Saura. Ever since the Mauryan empire, religion has become an important point in the civilization. Religious shows  the dominance of the Brahmins. This religion is getting competition from Buddhism during the reign of Chandragupta Maurya, especially Asoka. The glory of Hinduism emerged at the time of the Gupta Empire.

Hindus also believe in the Law of Karma that is associated with human behavior in life and rebirth after death. Rebirth is dependent on Karma and purpose in life was to attain Mosyak, which means absolute freedom. Those who reach this level will be united with God and will not be born again into the world. Thus, a person must do good in his life to achieve the Moksya.

Civilizations, the 4 Early River Valley (~3000 BC)

Civilization	Geographical Factors	Accomplishments	Miscellaneous
Nile River Valley(present-day Egypt)	The Nile River provided predictable floods and a stable food source The River flows northward and empties into the Mediterranean but the winds blow south This enabled river travelers to move north or south along the river, which promoted trade and unity in Ancient Egypt Deserts and seas surround the valley and offered some protection from invasion	Hieroglyphics Wrote on sheets of dried papyrus plant Used geometry to survey fields and build canals as well as pyramids as tombs for the pharaoh Knew astronomy and produced a calendar of 365 days	Rigid class structure with the pharaoh at the top followed by priests, artisans, farmers. and slaves Polytheistic religion - believed in life after death
Tigris-Euphrates River Valley(present-day Iraq)	The floods provided fertile soil and a stable food supply The floods of the Tigris-Euphrates rivers were unpredictable and as a result the Sumerians believed that their gods were angry gods The valley was surrounded by deserts & hills but they were relatively easy to cross and so the peoples of this region were constantly conquered and re-conquered	Developed a system of writing called Cuneiform, which were wedge-shaped characters pressed into a clay tablet Built ziggurats and arches with sun-dried clay bricks Developed the wheel and algebra Hammurabi's Code was constructed by the Babylonians and was an early form of written laws (an eye for an eye)	Practiced polytheism Had no conception of a heaven or salvation for the deceased
Yellow River Valley(present-day China)	Flooding of the Yellow River provided fertile, yellow soil and a stable food supply The Chinese were surrounded by mountains and the Gobi desert and as a result were very isolated from other civilizations and cultures As a result of this isolation the Chinese developed an ethnocentric mode of thinking	Developed a 360-day calendar based on the moon (priests added days when needed) Predicted eclipses and kept a written history Early written language consisted of pictograms	Dynastic cycle and Mandate of Heaven
Indus River Valley(present-day India)	The Indus River and monsoons provided a food supply Monsoons were unpredictable and led to famine or floods and destruction Valley is bordered by the Himalayas and the Hindu Kush to the north, however the Khyber pass allowed for entry into the region and invasion	Developed a written language of pictograms Constructed a water system, public baths, hospitals	Practiced animism before Hinduism and Buddhism take hold The Aryans conquer the valley They bring the Vedic religion and the beginnings of the caste system

Civilization (Civilis)

The word civilization comes from the Latin civilis, meaning civil, related to the Latin civis, meaning citizen, and civitas, meaning city or city-state. Civilization is also sometimes controversial term that has been used in several related ways. The term has been used to refer to the material and instrumental side of human cultures that are complex in terms of technology, science, and division of labor. Such civilizations are generally hierarchical and urbanized. In a classical context, people were called "civilized" to set them apart from Barbarians, while in a modern-day context, "civilized peoples" have been contrasted with primitive peoples.