Arabic and Persian
Literature A taste of the Middle East
Why is this study important?
• 6th Century Islam expanded from Persia and Arabia (Modern day Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq, Oman, Jordan, Syria, Yemen, Israel, Pakistan, Afghanistan)
• Islam is a powerful and misunderstood culture
• Islam brought modern mail service, banking, astronomy, navigation, medicine, math, and literature across Africa and Europe.
Pre-Islamic Influence of Persia1000 BC-642 AD
• Nomadic people
• Zoroaster founder of Persian religion (Zoroastrianism)
• Military Power Cyrus the Great (showed mercy, an example of Zoroastrianism influence)
• Cambyses II expanded Persia
• Darius I introduced roads, coinage, and weights to promote trade
• 490 BC Greeks Battle of Marathon
• 331 BC Alexander the Great
• 224 BC Persia regains power
• 651 AD Arabs defeat Persia Islam is introduced
Spread of Islam
• Persians: Established major center of Islamic learning: Famous Poets Ferdowsi, Omar Khayyam, Rumi, Sadi
• Arabs: Nomadic people (camel herders), spread Islam all the way to Spain
• Mecca established
• Persian Culture looses influence
Arabic Traditions: After 570 AD
• Abraham
• Desert nomads farmers and traders
• Oases
• Prophet Muhammad: Angel Gabriel
• Islam: “submission to Allah’s will”
• 640 AD Allegiance
• Caliphs
• Abbasid Dynasty: 762-1258 (Baghdad)
Persia and the Islamic Empire
• The Samanids Islamic renaissance Bukhara
The People of Islam
• Nomads Bedouins warriors
• Rulers break of theocracy emits, Sultans, Shahs
• Lower class taxed for not being Muslim, no slavery
• Merchants/traders bazaars
• Educated House of Wisdom (Caliph al Ma’mum
• Mystics dervishes or fakirs (Sufism)
• Women their rights improved (equals in the eyes of Allah)
Literature
Pre-Islamic: oral traditions
elaborate odes (qasidas)
Avesta
Islamic Influence: Koran
Sufism poetry
Golden Age (753 AD)
Encouraged great works of art