Islam: A Thousand Years of Faith and Power (Nota Bene)

by Jonathan Bloom (Author)

• New

  Illustrated
  2002

  $17.06

  In its first thousand years-from the revelations to Muhammad in the seventh century to the great Islamic empires of the sixteenth--Islamic civilization flourished. While Europeans suffered through the Dark Ages, Muslims in such cities as Jerusalem, Damascus, Alexandria, Fez, Tunis, Cairo, and Baghdad made remarkable advances in philosophy, science, medicine, literature, and art. This engrossing and accessible book explores the first millennium of Islamic culture, shattering stereotypes and enlightening readers about the events and achievements that have shaped contemporary Islamic civilization. Jonathan Bloom and Sheila Blair examine the rise of Islam, the life of Muhammad, and the Islamic principles of faith. They describe the golden age of the Abbasids, the Mongol invasions, and the great Ottoman, Safavid, and Mughal empires that emerged in their wake. Their narrative, complemented by excerpts of the Koran, poetry, biographies, inscriptions, travel guides, and even a thirteenth-century recipe, concludes with a brief epilogue that takes us to the twenty-first century. Colorfully illustrated, this book is a wonderful introduction to the rich history of a civilization that still radically affects the world.

• Used

  Hardcover
  2001

  $3.25

  Islam, followed by more than a billion people worldwide, is the world's fastest-growing religion and will soon be the world's largest. 'Islam-Empire of Faith' explores the first millennium of Islamic culture, from the revelation to Muhammad to the great Islamic empires. This accessible overview shatters stereotypes and enlightens readers - both Muslim and non-Muslim alike - to the many sources of contemporary Muslim civilization. 'Islam' examines the world at the rise of Islam, the life of Muhammad, Islamic principles of faith, the golden age of the Abbasid empire, the Mongol invasions of the thirteenth century, and the great Ottoman, Persian and Mughal empires that emerged in their wake. In its first thousand years, Islamic civilization flourished in cities between Spain and Central Asia. Many old cities such as Jerusalem, Damascus and Alexandria continued to thrive, while many new ones including Fez, Tunis, Cairo and Baghdad, were founded. While Europe suffered through the Dark Ages, Muslims made remarkable strides in the realms of science, medicine, literature and art. Authors Bloom and Blair provide a readable, yet in-depth narrative explaining the many intellectual and cultural development of early Islam, as well as the repercussions of it's broadening power. The narrative is complemented by translated excerpts of the Koran, poetry, biographies and other works of Islamic literature, including a travel guide from the ninth century and a recipe from the thirteenth.