Islam (edit title)

Shelfari edited the description of Islam Sunday, August 9 2009.

• In its first thousand years-from the revelations to Muhammad in the seventh century to the great Islamic empires of the sixteenth-Islamic civilization flourished. While Europeans suffered through the Dark Ages, Muslims in such cities as Jerusalem, Damascus, Alexandria, Fez, Tunis, Cairo, and Baghdad made remarkable advances in philosophy, science, medicine, literature, and art. This engrossing and accessible book explores the first millennium of Islamic culture, shattering stereotypes and enlightening readers about the events and achievements that have shaped contemporary Islamic civilization. Jonathan Bloom and Sheila Blair examine the rise of Islam, the life of Muhammad, and the Islamic principles of faith. They describe the golden age of the Abbasids, the Mongol invasions, and the great Ottoman, Safavid, and Mughal empires that emerged in their wake. Their narrative, complemented by excerpts of the Koran, poetry, biographies, inscriptions, travel guides, and even a thirteenth-century recipe, concludes with a brief epilogue that takes us to the twenty-first century. Colorfully illustrated, this book is a wonderful introduction to the rich history of a civilization that still radically affects the world.

Shelfari edited the contributors of Islam Wednesday, July 29 2009.

• Added a contributor: Jonathan Bloom: (Primary Author)

Shelfari edited the first sentence of Islam Thursday, July 16 2009.

• IN THE LATE SIXTH AND EARLY SEVENTH CENTURIES, TWO great powers-the Byzantines and the Sasanians-ruled the Near East.