Summary
While Europe was in the Dark Ages, classical learning from ancient Greece, Rome, and Persia was being preserved and advanced in Islamic libraries and universities. From 632 to 1258, the Islamic Empire was the most powerful and cultured domain in the world. Less than a century after its founding, the empire had grown from a loose confederation of desert tribes into the largest empire in the history of the world, larger than the mighty Roman Empire at its peak.
Featuring full-color photographs and maps, summaries of key people and key sites, primary source documents, a chronology, glossary, bibliography, and up-to-date further resources, Empire of the Islamic World, Fourth Edition opens with a brief summary of the Islamic Empire and gives a sense of the world and geographic area in the years leading up to the empire. The book continues by exploring the empire's society, culture, and daily life including architecture and art; astronomy and mathematics; customs, holidays, sports, and foods; government systems; industry and trade; language and literature; military structure and strategy; and mythology and religious beliefs.
About the Author(s)
Robin Doak, a former editor of Weekly Reader and U.S. Kids magazine, has 20 years of experience writing for children. She has written more than 35 books for young readers on various subjects including history, geography, and science.
Historical consultant Stephen C. Cory received his Ph.D. in Islamic history from the University of California at Santa Barbara in 2002. He is currently an assistant professor of history and religious studies at Cleveland State University in Cleveland, Ohio.