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Glassmakers began to thrive shortly after the Islamic Golden Age began, exploding in number and technique starting in the 8th century.
⚫ Many still carry on their traditions today
⚫Glassmakers were most numerous in cities that were interconnected by trade routes, most notably the cities Aleppo and Damascus, both renowned for their glasswork
⚫Glassmakers had existed previously but were not as popular until the Golden Age

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Map of Islamic Trade Routes - Note that Aleppo and Damascus are both on this map.

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⚫Muslims invented glasses, which extended the reading life of scholars by up to 20 years
⚫Glasses worked in tandem with science because they allowed people to continue experiments and their work
⚫Glass lamps helped to provide light in dark buildings or at night and were used in many settings
⚫Muslims in the Islamic Empires preferred objects with both detail and practical use
⚫Overall, many innovations made by Islamic glassmakers improved the quality of life and detail in otherwise undetailed areas

The glass industry was bolstered by these new glass products, requiring more workers and more job opportunities within the empire to manufacture glass. Higher production means a higher amount of glass in circulation, and, in turn, the amount that can be sold. Islamic art plays a role in these pieces as well, with calligraphy and Islamic symbols plastering glass decorations. They reflect the Islamic Empires' faith in their religion and their will to follow it, evidenced by the Muslim symbols that can be found on nearly every piece.

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Drawing depicting a distillation process using glass flasks

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In Islamic alchemy and astronomy, glass was particularly useful. It had unique properties that gave Muslim scholars new insights into the natural world.
⚫Glass is chemically inert, meaning it does not react to other chemicals. It allowed alchemists to conduct experiments under high heat while observing the experiment
⚫In astronomy, telescopes utilized glass slides to magnify the night sky. These tools aided Muslim scholars greatly in their quest to understand the stars

Muslim scholars were ultimately able to get so far because of inventions using glass. They were also more advanced in science because Islamic Empires were lenient towards scientific discoveries and allowed them to take place because Islam encouraged science. Highly beneficial ideas and inventions such as telescopes could also be shared through trade, improving overall technology throughout Eurasia.

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Stained glass is made by painting glass with metallic stains. Egyptians first discovered how to make it, then shared their methods with Islamic glassmakers.
⚫Like enameled glass, stained glass is another form of artisan glass that takes time and skill to create
⚫Stained glass was also a highly valuable decoration that people from neighboring regions would buy in trade
⚫Stained glass was used in everything from palaces to mosques, and eventually churches. It was used to create beautiful images inside buildings and to show off Islamic art
⚫Stained glass was mainly used in a religious context to represent Muslim beliefs or values

Stained glass was prized by foreigners, and contributed to the glass trade. Through the exchange of ideas, stained glass became more and more popular, helping to sustain Islamic influence on art and culture. Because Islamic stained glass is religious in nature, buildings decorated in it pay homage to Islam in one way or another. Ideas originating from Islamic states that spread elsewhere can be considered as the trade of knowledge, which is just as critical as material trade.

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Enameled glass was one of the most important glass making techniques to come from the Islamic Empires.
⚫Enameled glass was developed and perfected by Islamic artisans, who used new techniques to create it
⚫The process was challenging and complex, involving multiple cycles of painting and firing to solidify the color and designs
⚫Products such as vases, pots, and decor made from enameled glass were highly prized by European buyers, who flaunted their collections on special occasions

This innovation in glass making was pivotal to both European and Middle Eastern markets and was a symbol of wealth and status. As such, this helped to further expand the glass making industry and trade because of its high demand and decorative value. References to Islam were frequently included on pieces of glass, spreading the ideals and values of Islam by expressing them in tradable art. By including details such as Arabic calligraphy and geometry on decorative glass, those who possessed the glass also possessed a symbol of Islam and contributed to its influence.