Islam was revealed following the Axial Age (800-200BCE) of human history and spread through many different cultures from its origins in the Arabian peninsula. Islamic societies fostered centers of learning that drew from and furthered the existing knowledge of the time. Nowadays, Islam has a different character in the many communities in which is is practiced, from the Americas to Asia.
Key Terms:
- Tradition
- Islamicate
Thumbnail: “Enjoy the Sunshine,” Penang Island, Malaysia. Photo Credit: Ah Wei (Lung Wei), 2016. CC BY-SA 2.0.
Learning Materials:
2.1.1 Geographies and Horizons Video
As Islam spread, it encountered and engaged different cultures. (Stylommatophora/ "Selimiye Mosque, Dome")
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2.1.2 Global Connections: The Middle East
What cultures can be found in the Islamic heartlands? (US Library of Congress/"Major ethnic groups")
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2.1.3 Venture of Islam
Marshall Hodgson was arguably one of the most important historians of Islam in the 20th century. (Topkapu Saray Museum/"Das Kräuterbuch")
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2.1.4 Why Is Islam So Different in Different Countries?
Why is Islam practice differently in different places and at different times? (British Museum/"11th Century North African Qur’an")
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2.1.5 Spread of Islamic Culture
Explore the spread of Islam through trade routes and architecture. (Ali Mansuri/"Supplicating Pilgrim")
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