The Byzantine, Islamic and African Empire
Posted May 19th, 2011 at 07:14 PM by Constantine XI
Updated May 20th, 2011 at 07:22 AM by Constantine XI
Updated May 20th, 2011 at 07:22 AM by Constantine XI
Tags african empire, byzantine, islamic
[CENTER][FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode][SIZE=4][B][U]The Byzantine, Islamic and African Empire[/U][/B][/SIZE][/FONT][/CENTER]
[LEFT][FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode]We know that the period did not begin well. In much of the world, the early part of the Middle Ages was a dark and dangerous time. In Europe, barbarian tribes stormed the former Roman Empire. In Arabia, nomadic clans warred with each other. In Africa, warriors fought for dominance. In the east, China's ounce-powerful Han dynasty fell, leaving a fragmented collection of kingdoms.[/FONT][/LEFT]
[LEFT][FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode]Yet sparks of hope flickered in the darkness. In time, they kindled an Age of Faith, and a time of artistic creativity in many regions. Let's look back at some of the brighter medieval moments.[/FONT][/LEFT]
[LEFT][FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode][B]Byzantium's Light[/B][/FONT][/LEFT]
[LEFT][FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode]In the 4th century, as barbarian tribes threatened Roman territories in Europe, Constantine made a dramatic decision. He moved the capital of the empire east, he moved it from Rome to Byzantium in Asia Minor. This move reflected a shift in the empire's economic and cultural center. While Rome itself faced serious problems, trade, learning, and art flourished to the east. The new capital became the wealthiest city in the world, and melting pot of cultures and people. When the Roman Empire was no more, this thriving city, with access to trade, agriculture, and situated perfectly for strong defence, became the beating heart of a new Byzantine Empire, the Constantinople.[/FONT][/LEFT]
[LEFT][FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode]While fighting ravaged the west, the new capital city became as "second Rome." Merchants from Europe, Asia, and Africa gathered there to trade. Scholars preserved and reprinted countless Greek and Latin texts. In the 6th cebtury, the emperor Justinian helped unify the Byzantine Empire by insisting on a single code of law the "Justinian Code" for all his subjects, from Asia Minor to Persia. Under Justinian and his wife Theodora, art thrived in Constantinople. The emperor and his wife--proud of their link to the Roman past, but also devout Christians--oversaw the building of Hagia Sophia, the Church of the "Holy Wisdom," with its awe-inspiring dome, brilliantly glowing mosaics, and precious icons. Hagia Sophia was their gift to an empire that would last nearly a thousand years.[/FONT][/LEFT]
[LEFT][FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode]The Byzantine Empire became the center of the Eastern Orthodox Christianity. the empire remained home to people of many faiths. But in its art, architecture, and aspirations, the identity of Byzantium was closely linked to eastern Christianity. [/FONT][/LEFT]
[FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode][B]The Flame of Islam[/B][/FONT]
[FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode]To the south and east of the Byzantine Empire, on the Arbian Peninsula, another vibrant civilization emerged. During the sixth century, the nomadic tribes of this area had little to unite them other than their language. The Bedouin clans worshiped many different gods, and often fought each other in tribal disputes. But in the early seventh century, Muhammad hailed as "the Prophet" brought a message the would change Arabia and the world.[/FONT]
[LEFT][FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode]Muhammad proclaimed the existence of only one God. Muhammed urged hisfellow Arabs to follow a new path of "submission" to God's will. Thus the religion of Islam was born. Followers of Islam were expected to abide by the Five Pillars of the faith--proclaiming faith in one God, prayer, fasting, alms-giving, and making a pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca. After Muhammad, Allah the leader spread Islam even farther. The religion spread in part through conquest, and in part through trade as Muslim merchants carried their beliefs into different lands. A hundred years after Muhammads daeth, a mighty Islamic Empire united Arabia, Mesopotamia, Persia, and North Africa, and large parts of Spain.[/FONT][/LEFT]
[LEFT][FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode]The Islamic Empire's caliphs encouraged knowledge and learning, In the city of Baghdad, Muslim scholars translated ancient Greek and Roman texts into Arabic. The caliphs built a research library(House of Wisdom) in Baghdad where scholars studied works from antiquity. Arab thinkers explored new frontiers of knowledge. Ibn Sina's book on medicine, for example, influence phisicians in many parts of the world fro centuries. And we still use the mathmatical formulas and the muber system Al-Khwarizmi developed from Hindu method.[/FONT][/LEFT]
[LEFT][FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode]Faith provided motivation and theme in Islamic art. Muslims built domed buildings with pointed arches and slender minarets. Inside, these buildings often gleamed with intricate mosaics, swirling arabesques, and elegant Arabic scipt. Outside, fountains gurgled and lush courtyards invited relection. These medieval buildings still stand as remindets of the glory of Islamic arts and arcgitecture.[/FONT][/LEFT]
[LEFT][B][FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode]The Riches of Africa[/FONT][/B][/LEFT]
[LEFT][FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode]Throughout the Middle Ages, Muslims extended their influence into Africa and as the Sudan, a land ruled by two great African warrior federation(Ghana & Mali). Between the eight and tenth centuries, Ghana grew rich from trade with Arab merchants. The Soninke traded gold for other precious items. This trade made Ghana's lords wealthy men. Ghana's king supported an army of mounted knights, as well as a court with advisors, servants, and slaves.[/FONT][/LEFT]
[LEFT][FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode]By the thirteenth century, Ghana gave way to Mali as the region's most powerful warrior federation. The hero Sundiata rallied his people, led them to victory, extended his reign over a large part of western Africa. The Malinke grew wealthy from trade with their Arab nieghbors to the North.[/FONT][/LEFT]
[LEFT][FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode]We know that the period did not begin well. In much of the world, the early part of the Middle Ages was a dark and dangerous time. In Europe, barbarian tribes stormed the former Roman Empire. In Arabia, nomadic clans warred with each other. In Africa, warriors fought for dominance. In the east, China's ounce-powerful Han dynasty fell, leaving a fragmented collection of kingdoms.[/FONT][/LEFT]
[LEFT][FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode]Yet sparks of hope flickered in the darkness. In time, they kindled an Age of Faith, and a time of artistic creativity in many regions. Let's look back at some of the brighter medieval moments.[/FONT][/LEFT]
[LEFT][FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode][B]Byzantium's Light[/B][/FONT][/LEFT]
[LEFT][FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode]In the 4th century, as barbarian tribes threatened Roman territories in Europe, Constantine made a dramatic decision. He moved the capital of the empire east, he moved it from Rome to Byzantium in Asia Minor. This move reflected a shift in the empire's economic and cultural center. While Rome itself faced serious problems, trade, learning, and art flourished to the east. The new capital became the wealthiest city in the world, and melting pot of cultures and people. When the Roman Empire was no more, this thriving city, with access to trade, agriculture, and situated perfectly for strong defence, became the beating heart of a new Byzantine Empire, the Constantinople.[/FONT][/LEFT]
[LEFT][FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode]While fighting ravaged the west, the new capital city became as "second Rome." Merchants from Europe, Asia, and Africa gathered there to trade. Scholars preserved and reprinted countless Greek and Latin texts. In the 6th cebtury, the emperor Justinian helped unify the Byzantine Empire by insisting on a single code of law the "Justinian Code" for all his subjects, from Asia Minor to Persia. Under Justinian and his wife Theodora, art thrived in Constantinople. The emperor and his wife--proud of their link to the Roman past, but also devout Christians--oversaw the building of Hagia Sophia, the Church of the "Holy Wisdom," with its awe-inspiring dome, brilliantly glowing mosaics, and precious icons. Hagia Sophia was their gift to an empire that would last nearly a thousand years.[/FONT][/LEFT]
[LEFT][FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode]The Byzantine Empire became the center of the Eastern Orthodox Christianity. the empire remained home to people of many faiths. But in its art, architecture, and aspirations, the identity of Byzantium was closely linked to eastern Christianity. [/FONT][/LEFT]
[FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode][B]The Flame of Islam[/B][/FONT]
[FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode]To the south and east of the Byzantine Empire, on the Arbian Peninsula, another vibrant civilization emerged. During the sixth century, the nomadic tribes of this area had little to unite them other than their language. The Bedouin clans worshiped many different gods, and often fought each other in tribal disputes. But in the early seventh century, Muhammad hailed as "the Prophet" brought a message the would change Arabia and the world.[/FONT]
[LEFT][FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode]Muhammad proclaimed the existence of only one God. Muhammed urged hisfellow Arabs to follow a new path of "submission" to God's will. Thus the religion of Islam was born. Followers of Islam were expected to abide by the Five Pillars of the faith--proclaiming faith in one God, prayer, fasting, alms-giving, and making a pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca. After Muhammad, Allah the leader spread Islam even farther. The religion spread in part through conquest, and in part through trade as Muslim merchants carried their beliefs into different lands. A hundred years after Muhammads daeth, a mighty Islamic Empire united Arabia, Mesopotamia, Persia, and North Africa, and large parts of Spain.[/FONT][/LEFT]
[LEFT][FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode]The Islamic Empire's caliphs encouraged knowledge and learning, In the city of Baghdad, Muslim scholars translated ancient Greek and Roman texts into Arabic. The caliphs built a research library(House of Wisdom) in Baghdad where scholars studied works from antiquity. Arab thinkers explored new frontiers of knowledge. Ibn Sina's book on medicine, for example, influence phisicians in many parts of the world fro centuries. And we still use the mathmatical formulas and the muber system Al-Khwarizmi developed from Hindu method.[/FONT][/LEFT]
[LEFT][FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode]Faith provided motivation and theme in Islamic art. Muslims built domed buildings with pointed arches and slender minarets. Inside, these buildings often gleamed with intricate mosaics, swirling arabesques, and elegant Arabic scipt. Outside, fountains gurgled and lush courtyards invited relection. These medieval buildings still stand as remindets of the glory of Islamic arts and arcgitecture.[/FONT][/LEFT]
[LEFT][B][FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode]The Riches of Africa[/FONT][/B][/LEFT]
[LEFT][FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode]Throughout the Middle Ages, Muslims extended their influence into Africa and as the Sudan, a land ruled by two great African warrior federation(Ghana & Mali). Between the eight and tenth centuries, Ghana grew rich from trade with Arab merchants. The Soninke traded gold for other precious items. This trade made Ghana's lords wealthy men. Ghana's king supported an army of mounted knights, as well as a court with advisors, servants, and slaves.[/FONT][/LEFT]
[LEFT][FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode]By the thirteenth century, Ghana gave way to Mali as the region's most powerful warrior federation. The hero Sundiata rallied his people, led them to victory, extended his reign over a large part of western Africa. The Malinke grew wealthy from trade with their Arab nieghbors to the North.[/FONT][/LEFT]
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