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The prophet, Muhammad, was born in the city of Mecca in around 570CE. Mecca was located in Western Asia, in a region known as Arabia. During this time, central and southern Arabia was made up of lots of different kingdoms. Many people in Arabia were pagans, meaning they believed in many gods. A few tribes also followed Christianity or Judaism.

Prior to 610 CE, Arabia was religiously and culturally diverse. It is referred to in Islam as Jahiliyyah which translates as ‘ignorance’ - a time before the enlightnement of Islam.

In around 610 CE, Muhammad is said it have received his first revelation from God. After this he began preaching that there is one God. This was the birth of Islam, which translates as “Surrender to God”. The followers of Islam are called Muslims and the holy book of Islam is the Quran. Muslims believe it contains the words of God that were revealed to Muhammed the prophet.

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Qu’ran, a Qu’ran stand and prayer mat

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Makkah model

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There was a lot of growth in the Islamic empire during this time.

The Islamic empire was at its greatest size in 730 CE. Muslim armies had conquered 15 million square kilometres, which is around 10 percent of the earth’s land area. Almost one third of the world’s population was ruled by caliphs.

An army general, named Muawiyah, from the Umayyad family, declared himself a caliph and rose to great power. During the rule of the Umayyads, the Islamic empire grew to its greatest size.

The Islamic empire stretched across North Africa to the Middle East, as far as modern-day Pakistan. In Europe, most of what is now Spain was under control from the caliphs.

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This resource can be used as a virtual artefacts box or as a companion to the Schools Library Services’ Islamic Golden Age Artefacts Collection.

Each chapter gives background information to the artefacts that can be viewed here or be borrowed as a set from the library.

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In the following years, hostility arose in Mecca, which forced Muhammad and his followers move to Medina. Here he founded a Muslin community. From Medina, Muhammad and his followers began to spread the word of Islam across Arabia.

Muhammed died in 632 CE, after falling ill. He had united many tribes of Arabia, having converted them to Islam. After Muhammed’s death, his father-in-law and close friend became his successor. He was called ‘Caliph’, a word meaning ‘next in line’.

The spread of the Islamic civilization began after the Muslim army began waging war on empires north of Arabia.

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The golden age of the Islamic empire was from 750 CE. During this time the Umayyads were overthrown by the Abbasid family, who focused on the importance of education, charity, and good government.

The wealth of the caliphs paid for scholars to write books, study science and translate the works of the Ancient Greeks into Arabic - particularly works of mathematics, poetry, science and medicine.

The Abbasids lost control of many of its provinces by 945 CE. These provinces, while still under Muslim power, were ruled by sperate leaders. This meant that although the golden age of the Islamic empire was coming to an end Islamic rule extended to India, Turkey, and included a large part of central and north Africa.

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Prior to the development of the Islamic empire, goods travelled from China to Europe via the Silk Road. In the early Islamic empire, the caliphs controlled this trade as it passed through their territory. Baghdad’s shopping arcades were filled with silk, linen, printed cloth, furs, precious metals, spices and slaves. These arcades were visited by the wealthy citizens of the areas.

In the Bahgdad souk (marketplace) traders were set up so that their wares were grouped like with like. All the carpet traders together, all the gold traders together. This encouraged competitive and fair pricing as customers could see all the competing wares together.

Items from particular parts of the Islamic civilisation were prized over others, such as leather from Spain (or ‘Al Andulus’ as it was known), silk from China, glass from Syria and earthenware pottery from Baghdad.

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Coins called gold dinar were used to purchase items. These coins had an inscription on them which read ‘There is no god but Allah and Muhammad is the messenger of Allah.’ It was believed that each time the coin changed hands, the message of Islam is spread.

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Model of a silk road caravan trader and pack camels.

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Model of a silk road caravan trader and pack camels.

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Muslim traders continued continued the Chinese practice of using camels as the could travel long distances with minimal food and water, can carry a quarter of their own weight in goods and can cross terrain that would be impassable to horses. Caravans could be made up of 100 or even 1000 camels.

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The word ‘Spice’ comes from a Latin word that means ‘special wares’ - literally ‘special items for sale’.

Spices were highly prized throughout the Islamic world and in Europe.

They were used in cooking, as poison antidotes, for scent or in religious ceremonies.

Turmeric is still used widely today as a medicine as well as in food. Its stains are almost impossible to wash out!

Cinnamon was a luxury and was prized for it’s scent and flavour.

Black pepper was highly prized throughout history. As well as gold and silver, black pepper was demanded as ransom to free the city of Rome from invaders!

Star anise has been used as medicine as well as in food.

Sometimes called ‘The Queen of spices’ cardamom was valued in cookery and medicine

Nutmeg has been used as insense as well as in food.

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Arguably the Golden Age of Islam gave the word the ifrst welfare state! Hospitals were not allowed to turn anyone away, even if they couldn’t pay and were supposed to be 24 hour service.

The doctors were highly trained and were far ahead of the west at the time, using a vast knowledge of herbs, spices and natural producst to improve health and cure various ailments.

This included adding sugarcane to food because sugar can act as a preservative (stopping food going rotten) as well as having some beneficial effects on nutrition (just not in excess!).

They were also ahead with mental health. Mental health and physical health were in separate parts of the hospital and mental health cures and treatment included things like ‘natural music’. They believed that being able to hear sounds found in nature were important to mental wellbeing, so the hospitals tended to have courtyards with fountains in so patients could listen to the water.

Patients were also prescribed to listen to birdsong. Present day research has demonstrated that anxiety and other mental health problems are reduced by being in natural spaces.

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The sound of the Song Thrush that I recorded in Kazdağları (Mount Ida, Turkey), which I visit every spring, just before sunset.

Kazdağları is the forest where I was born, raised, and always listened to attentively. In this recording, I am approximately 3 meters away from the Song Thrush and I feel very lucky that I was able to capture its entire performance without frightening it.

There was a distant, tranquil sound of a stream in the background. The species of birds heard in the distance are: Brown Thrasher, Northern Cardinal, Eurasian Blackbird.

Discover more sounds from this area

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Mount Ida, Early Evening, Song Thrush - earth.fm

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The sound of the Song Thrush that I recorded in Kazdağları (Mount Ida, Turkey), which I visit every spring, just before sunset. Kazdağları is the forest where I was born, raised, and always listened to attentively. In this recording, I am approximately 3 meters away from the Song Thrush and I feel very lucky that...

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A variety of birdsong by a flowing river in North Wales. Species recorded include Common Blackbird, Blue Tit, Chaffinch, Coal Tit, Great Tit, Greenfinch & Eurasian Wren.

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Langarica Canyon is located only 12 kms (7 miles) from the town of Permet and Benja Hot Springs is located at the entrance to the canyon. Both are located within Fir of Hotova-Dangelli National Park, the largest national park in Albania.

While hiking along the unexplored paths of Lengarica Canyon in Albania, one cannot help but be awestruck by the gentle murmur of small river streams. These delicate sounds weave a soothing melody, creating crystal-clear natural pools along the way. As you pause to admire the breathtaking majesty of the canyon's limestone walls, a sense of wonder envelops you, immersing you in nature's grandeur.

Discover more sounds from this area

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Langarica Canyon is located only 12 kms (7 miles) from the town of Permet and Benja Hot Springs is located at the entrance to the canyon. Both are located within Fir of Hotova-Dangelli National Park, the largest national park in Albania. While hiking along the unexplored paths of Lengarica Canyon in Albania, one cannot help...

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Why not search the world for calming natural sounds. Where's the most relaxing place you can find?

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The Nature Soundmap is an interactive map that allows listeners to explore immersive natural soundscapes.

Collected by the recordists and artists of the Earth.fm family, these sounds come from every corner of the planet.

What types of sounds are featured on the soundmap?

The Earth.fm soundmap features immersive sounds ranging from the Serengeti's lions and hippos to crickets along Nevada's Niobrara River, and from the magical sounds of spring in the Himalayan foothills to those of dawn on a Swedish island.

You can listen to the calm raindrops in a jungle of India, coyotes in the Mexican Sierra, evening birds on the coast of Hawaii, or the gentle waves of the Albanian Riviera.

The nature soundmap is a fantastic collection of the sounds of our Earth, offering access to the diverse, undisturbed wildlife from beyond our screens - whether for relaxation or education.

How to use the soundmap?

Heart-shaped placemarks on the soundmap each give access to a different, unique recording of natural sounds from that area.

You can also use the following filters:

These will narrow your search down to only show, for instance, joyful-sounding recordings or soundscapes from a specific geographical region.

Our hopes for the nature soundmap

Human well-being

Natural soundscapes have a positive impact on human well-being.

We aren't always able to experience nature first-hand, but these sound recordings, available on the map, provide a wonderful substitute, whether you wish to imagine walking in a forest in winter or listening to a calm creek while camping.

And if you are more excited by extremes, find your happy place while listening to rare specialties, like the sounds of an active volcano recorded from the crater edge, or a thunderstorm in the driest desert on Earth, the Atacama.

Preserving the natural world

Biodiverse soundscapes recorded without anthropophonic sounds are increasingly scarce, as the ecosystems that produce them are continually decimated by humans and industry, agriculture, and urban sprawl.

For this reason, we do not only collect and curate soundscapes, we also highlight charities that work to heal and preserve the natural world in the regions where the recordings were made.

Read more about this mission, and our list of recommended charities.

Learning experience

As well as offering the best possible listening experience, this soundmap also provides a unique learning opportunity for students.

When learning about the world's different geographic regions or the wildlife which inhabits them, children may not be able to visit but their teachers can use the soundmap's recordings to help them engage with these topics.

The auditory journey from a typical classroom to morning in the Amazon rainforest and other sounds from nature can also benefit mental health, according to a study by the University of Sussex.

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Nature Soundmap: Sounds of Nature from Our Planet - Earth.fm

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Discover our soundmap of wonderful natural soundscapes and wildlife sounds from all over the world.

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It is thought that shadow theatre was a widespread form of popular entertainment in the Islamic world. There is evidence of it being in practice since the 700s and it is thought that it was brought to the Islamic world by merchants trading in the far east, in particular Java. Other people believe that it came from China by way of Persia.

By the 1100s these art forms were developing and there was a strong connection with religion. In Egypt, it is thought that the puppets became a link between the human and invisible world. It is also thought that shadow puppetry was approved of more than other art such as painting or acting because the human form was represented only through the shadow.

Few shadow plays remain because it is thought that most were not written down as scripts but were improvised (the puppeteers made up or adapted stories as they performed).

We know a little about some plays. The story was often about characters who did silly or bad things, or who had bad things happen to them - from having to marry someone horrible to being eaten by a crocodile to committing crimes. Some of the stories are very rude!

The stories usually end with the characters going to Mecca to seek forgiveness for all of the bad (but entertaining) things that they did in the rest of the story!

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A falconer on horseback

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A crocodile - a familiar animal in Egypt where this puppet came from. What other dangerous animals would be good puppets in a play?

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We think this is a giraffe but it could be a long-necked horse or even a camel. What do you think?

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Puppets can also be a group of characters

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A lion and a man. Are they friends or is he about to be eaten?

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We're not sure what he's carrying! Can you make a guess?

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This looks like a wealthy man. Perhaps he's a merchant?

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This is a puppet warship. We know that some shows featured battles or wars

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Sugarcane in medicine was believed to help fight inflamation and promote liver health and good blood pressure. It was also used for pain relief.

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Sandalwood oil has been used as an antiseptic and for the treatment of headaches, stomach aches, and bladder disorders. It is also used in the treatment of inflammatory skin diseases and smells very nice when burned!

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Music and other pastimes were often reserved for the wealthier members of the Islamic society, however these pastimes spread to the streets across the Islamic empire. Instruments, such as the oud, were popular and composters often set poetry to music.

Games such as backgammon or Shatranj, which is an early, Islamic version of chess, were common in wealthy boys’ education.

Activity : Design non-figurative chess pieces in the style of the ones used in the Islamic Empire

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During the Golden Age, decorative arts became more advanced. Ceramics and metal work with bronze and gold were very popular and the art of calligraphy became very common. Muslims, do not allow for images of people of animals on religious objects or places, as they believe it encourages people to worship things other than God.

Muslim calligraphers decorated a variety of different objects, such as pottery, vases, swords and fabrics. It also became common for the Quaran to be filled with beautiful calligraphy on the cover and throughout. Muslims believed the words of the Quaran should be written as beautifully as possible.

Cities in the Islamic empire were filled with mosques, libraries, schools, bathhouses, theatres, gardens, hospitals, markets and racecourses. Islamic buildings were often decorated with intricate geometric patterns, made from coloured tiles.

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Calligraphic tiles would usually be used to convey meanings and messages from the Quran.

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Ancient Islamic tile designs were extremely complex.

Scientists have discovered that some 15th century designs make use of a system of tessellation that wasn't discovered in the west until the 1970s!

These designs are a fusion of mathematics and art.

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Calligraphy pens were carved from wood.

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Caliph Al-Mansur of the Abbasids - the second Muslim dynasty - founded Baghdad in 762CE as the perfect capital city for the Islamic Empire.

Baghdad was a successful city. It was built on the great river Tigris and so controlled all river trade.

It had so much water that all households were able to have their own supply.

Known as the 'Round City', Baghdad had many parks and gardens as well as houses and shops. It also had a sanitation department and public baths and fountains. Unlike European cities the streets were frequently washed free of rubbish. This all helped to create the hygienic environment prescribed by Islam. At the center of the city was a mosque as well as the palace for the royal family.

The city was busy day and night. As well as homes and shops there were taverns, cabarets and halls for board games, plays and music. Street corner storytelling was also a profession!

By the 9th century Baghdad was a center of science, medicine, philosophy and education. The "house of wisdom" held the largest selection of books in the world.

By the 10th century Baghdad had reached it's peak population of between 1.2 and 2 million people.

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Highly prized, schooling was encouraged and the oldest University in the world was established first in Morrocco (city of Fez, al-Qarawiyyin university founded by Fatima al-Fihri).

When the practice of making paper was brought over from China, books and calligraphy boomed.

The wealthy competed to be the first to commission translations and copies of Ancient Greek or Islamic texts for libraries and there was a famous library in Baghdad called the House of Wisdom with 50,000+ books in it.

All the books were handwritten because the printing press had not been invented yet, which demonstrates just how much value books and education had in the Golden Age of Islam!

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Islamic astronomers made huge discoveries in understanding the movements of the planets. Many mathematical methods taught today, were developed in the Islamic Empire. The world’s first observatory called the Shammasiyah, was built in Baghdad in around 828 CE. In this observatory, many discoveries were made, and detailed maps of the stars were drawn. They were also able to take careful measurements of the movements of the Sun, Moon and planets.

Amazingly, in 830 CE, a group of astronomers were able to calculate the circumference on the Earth as 39,900 km which is extremely close to the actual distance of 40,075 km. After this, al-Battani, an Islamic astronomer, calculated the length of time it takes the Earth to travel around the Sun once. His calculation was just over 2 minutes out.

Ibn al-Haytham was a mathematician and astronomer who is sometimes described as the first true physicist. He made big discoveries in the study of light, using mirrors and lenses. He was the first to correctly explain the theory of vision, stating that vision occurs in the brain.

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Astrolabes are thought to have existed since around 200 BCE . They were especially useful in the Islamic world and the Ancient Greek designs were further developed by Muslim astronomers,

A 10th-century astronomer Abd Al-Rahman Al-Sufi described more than 1000 applications for them! These included the astrological, the astronomical and the religious, to navigation, seasonal and daily time-keeping, and tide tables.

Islamic prayer times could be astronomically determined, as well as the direction of Mecca towards which Muslims must pray,

Astrolabes could also calculate dates of important religious observances such as Ramadan

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Al-Idrisi’s 12th-century map was the ﬁrst to show most of Europe, Asia, and North Africa. The Norman King Roger of Sicily commissioned it from Al-Idrisi.

It was drawn with the South as the topmost hemisphere

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The Islamic armies were large, well organized and disciplined. Soldiers would use swords, spears and bows. In 632 CE, the Islamic army had 13,000 men. This number would grow significantly by 661 CE, with up to 100,000 men serving in the Islamic army, under the Umayyads rule. European armies of the time rarely numbered over 7,000 and following the conquest of what is now Spain, Muslim forces attempted to expand into France.

They also made their army professional, meaning soldiers where paid a salary for working full time. They also created a strong navy, which supported their army by sea.

Early in the Islamic empire, most of the army fought on foot. These foot soldiers, were known as the infantry and were armed with spears, swords and bows. The Islamic sword was called a sayf. Skilled archers were known as rumat.

Soldiers, known as the calvary, rode into battle on horses or camels. They were armed with lances and swords and wore lighter armour so they could move faster on their animals. As the army developed, they grew more reliant on cavalry.

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Curved swords were used throughout the Middle East during and after the Islamic Golden Age.

Swords were often beautifully decorated with Arabic script

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In the early Islamic empire, it was traditional to dress modestly and cover the body to the ankles. Many women wore a headscarf or a veil to cover their faces and men started wearing a long one-piece garment with sleeves called a thawb or thobe and some wore turbans to cover their heads.

Richer people in the society were able to afford a patterned silk called damask fabric whereas poorer workers would have worn cheaper materials such as wool and would have worn fewer layers.

Black became a colour that signified wealth and high status, and many officials wore black for ceremonies.

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The Caliphate - the empire as ruled by the caliphs - formerly came to an end in 1258 CE when the last caliph, al-Musta’sim was overthrown at the sacking of the city of Baghdad by the Mongol armies.

Although this is popularly regarded as the end of the Golden Age of Islam, it was not the end of Islamic civilization. Although since 945 CE the caliphate’s provinces had been outside of direct control, these regions were still ruled by Muslim leaders. By 1500 CE Islamic rule had spread to India, Turkey and north and central Africa.

These seaparate Muslim states, despite the rise of great emipres such as the Ottomans, never again became a unified power as they had been under the early Caliphate.