Early Islamic Civilisation

Product Information

Located between Asia and Europe, Baghdad was an ideal place for overland trade between the two continents. Soap, honey, diamonds and more were traded on The Silk Road. Industries in silk, glass and tiles were developed and Baghdad was the first city in the Islamic world to have its own paper mill. A technique learnt from Chinese travellers. Casana, Jesse. "Structural Transformations in Settlement Systems of the Northern Levant." American Journal of Archaeology, Volume 111, Issue 2, 2007, Boston. The Early Islamic World was a period of rapid expansion for both the Islamic Empire and the religion of Islam. While Europe was languishing in the dark ages, the Middle East was experiencing a time of economic prosperity and scientific advancement. In this section, we cover the Islamic Empire from the start of Islam (610 CE) to the fall of the Ottoman Empire (1924). Scholars generally agree that Islam began early in the 7th Century CE, originating in the cities Mecca and Medina of Saudi Arabia. Muslims believe that around 610 CE the Prophet Muhammad began to have divine messages from the Islamic god Allah.

This timeline activity will help children develop a chronologically secure knowledge and understanding of British, local and world history in contrast to each other, establishing clear narratives within and across the periods they study. The Islamic Empire expanded throughout the Middle Ages to become one of the largest empires in the history of the world. It controlled the Middle East, northern Africa, the Iberian peninsula (Spain), and parts of Asia into India. There are "Five Pillars of Islam" that form the framework of the religion of Islam. They are 1) Shahadah (declaration of faith) 2) Salat (prayer) 3) Zakat (charity) 4) Fasting 5) Hajj (pilgrimage). Many of the discoveries related to medicine, including the invention of cauterising wounds, forceps for childbirth and the use of catgut for stitching wounds, all still used today. Help children to learn about the history and achievements of the early Islamic civilisation, including Baghdad, with this knowledge organiser containing the key knowledge and vocabulary from our PlanIt UKS2 history unit.

Where did the Islamic empire start?

The above video may be from a third-party source. We accept no responsibility for any videos from third-party sources. Please let us know if the video is no longer working.

Insoll, Timothy "Islamic Archaeology and the Sahara." The Libyan Desert: Natural Resources and Cultural Heritage. Eds. Mattingly, David, et al. Volume 6: The Society For Libyan Studies, 2006, London. There were several capital cities of the Caliphate throughout history. Some of the major capitals included Medina, Damascus, Baghdad, Cairo, and Istanbul. Children will learn about the history of the Islamic Caliphate in the middle ages (c. AD 900) and compare its life and culture to that in London and Europe at the time. They will learn about Islamic art, as well as the discoveries of important Islamic scholars such as Al-Khwarizmi, the 'father of algebra', and the importance of the House of Wisdom. A timeline is given to support children in recognising the key events in the history of the early Islamic civilisation, including the Siege of Baghdad, and to help them put these events in the context of their knowledge of world and British history. This knowledge organiser has been designed by our teacher team to perfectly support the KS2 national curriculum for history, studying a non-European society that provides contrasts with British history. Where did the Islamic empire start? Moaddel, Mansoor. " The Study of Islamic Culture and Politics: An Overview and Assessment." Annual Review of Sociology, Volume 28, Issue1, August 2002, Palo Alto, Calif.

Early Islamic civilisation, including Baghdad c. AD 900

Ada is twelve and has lived near the rainforest, with her Papa Eze, for as long as she can remember. She knows Papa is not her real family but he’s always looked after her. One day, however, Papa Eze becomes unwell and tells Ada the full story behind her birth and how he came to look after her. Unfortunately, someone else has also discovered the story of Ada’s birth and who Ada is and wishes her harm. Papa Eze realizes that Ada needs to escape the village, so sends her off, with her friend Mbe, on a perilous journey to find both safety and her true identity. Along the way, they meet both new friends and old enemies and go on an adventure of a lifetime. We have lots of learning resources for children learning about Islam in religious education and in history lessons, from the beginnings of Islam to the modern-day religion. Learn more about the history of the Islamic Empire

Meri, Josef Waleed, ed. Medieval Islamic Civilization: An Encyclopedia. New York: Routledge, 2006, Abingdon, U.K. The Islamic empire was the scene of a vast number of inventions and discoveries, including the development of algebra by Al-Khwarizmi. Muhammed lived from 570 CE to 632 CE, with the Qur'an being the main holy text. He was born in Mecca but moved to Medina with his followers to escape religious persecution. The Islamic Empire was founded in Mecca and led by Caliphs. The Islamic empire started in the Middle East in the 7th century AD. Baghdad was built in AD 752 by Caliph Al-Mansur to become the capital of the empire.

Find a Scheme of Work

Early Islamic art seldom included figures of humans or animals to avoid creating idols that people would worship. Children can be introduced to the idea that people from other civilisations have contributed to many ideas that impact on us still. They can learn about some of the differences in way of life between citizens of Baghdad and London c. AD 900. Links can be made with other cultures that contributed to the formation of theories that are still used within modern day Britain. Children will also be introduced to personalities who undertook challenges on a huge scale to leave behind fascinating legacies. There is a strong emphasis on children investigating issues and solving valid historical questions recognising the nature of the evidence on which their judgements and knowledge are based. Set in the ancient kingdom of Benin, this is both a fascinating insight into an ancient way of life as well as a well-told adventure story. Baghdad became a centre where knowledge was shared and influential ideas were created. Ibn al-Haytham invented an early type of camera that helped explain how the eye sees. The philosopher Ibn Sina wrote hundreds of texts on philosophy, geography, religion, mathematics and medicine. Al-Khwarizmi created writings on decimals, fractions and algebra. Robinson, Chase E. Islamic Civilization in Thirty Lives: The First 1,000 Years. University of California Press, 2016, Oakland, Calif.