Teachers Notes
Welcome to this website dedicated to improving the knowledge of teachers and pupils on the new topic of Early Islamic Civilisations.
In the National Curriculum 2014 it states 'Pupils should learn about a non-European society that provides contrasts with British history – one study chosen from: early Islamic civilisation, including a study of Baghdad c. ad 900; Mayan civilisation c. ad 900; Benin (West Africa) c. ad 900–1300'. While we found lots of information on the other studies identified, we found very little on Early Islamic Civilisations.
Key Word Glossary:
Caliph: Political and religious leader
Dynasty: A ruling family
Empire: Group of countries under the rule of one leader
Golden Age: A time of great developments in the sciences and arts
House of Wisdom: Also known as the Bayt al-Hikma, a place of learning that had a huge library with knowledge from around the world
The Round City: The city of Baghdad was also known as The Round City due to its architectural design
Important Dates:
751: Arabs learn to make paper
762: Caliph Al-Mansur founds the city of Baghdad, making the decision to build it
c. 768: The Round City is finished
c. 800: Baghdad becomes the largest city in the world
c 810: Baghdad becomes the centre for learning, with great advancements in maths, science and other disciplines
c 950: The Abbasid Caliphate starts to decline
1258: The invading Mongols destroy Baghdad