Islamic Contributions
Background
Mission Summary: Ascendancy
Essential Question
Visual Summary
How did the Empire of Islam use trade and learning to expand?
Clearly, at least at first, conquest played a huge role in the growth of the Islamic Empire. This growing empire, however, enforced a peace that hadn’t existed before leading to an increase in trade and learning. As traders went out, particularly to Africa, they took their religion and language with them. Was this method possibly more effective than conquest?
Ascendancy 3: �Trade and Tech
Economics
Arabia was in the middle of the Silk Road which meant many wanted to pass through it.
Roman Empire
Islamic Empire
China
Barbarians! Scary!
The Spice Trade
There was a tax on non-Muslims living in their land. If you convert, don’t pay!
The traders helped spread Islam and Arabic by offering better deals to any who converted.
Africa has:�Gold
Africa wants:�Salt
Arabia wants:�Gold
Arabia has:
�Well… uh…
What do you want again?
Gold
Big Desert
Salt
Excuse me, may I buy some cheap salt?
I will trade my valuable salt for your “worthless” gold!
Muslim merchants used their trade routes to buy salt in Northern Africa and then trade it for gold in the south.
Government
Ghana – an African empire built largely through the trade of gold and salt.
African Side
Main Street (dividing line)
Muslim Side
Many Africans became Muslim to have better access to markets and trade.
Mansa Musa– African king who converted and then supported Islam.
Brain
Snack
.
.
.
.
Mansa Musa
Islam also spread into South-east Asia using trade and wealth.
Technology
Muslim scholars greatly advanced medicine and even invented algebra.
The empire became a storehouse of knowledge from all over the world.
Today’s Big
How did trade help Islam grow?
Traders carried Islam to far off lands.
How did Mansa Musa help Islam grow?
Giving away gold
How did knowledge help Islam grow?
Better healthcare and technology