What was the early Islamic civilisation?
The early Islamic civilisation began over 1,400 years ago, around AD600.
It grew into a huge empire from Spain and North Africa to India.
Leaders called caliphs ruled the empire.
It became famous for learning and inventions.
This was called the Golden Age of Islam.
Important words
Important words on early Islamic civilisation.
| Keyword | Definition |
|---|---|
| Caliph | A leader in Islam. Means 'successor' or 'next in line' in English. |
| Civilisation | A group of people living together, with their own cities, rules, jobs and culture. |
| Empire | A group of countries and lands ruled by one leader or government. |
| Mosque | A special building where Muslims go to pray. |
| Trade | Buying or selling goods or services. |
Timeline of the early Islamic civilisation
Image caption, Click the arrows to learn more about the Islamic civilisation!
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Watch: How did the early Islamic civilisation grow?
Explore how the early Islamic civilisation grew in this video.
The Islamic civilisation began with one man and a small group of people in what is now Saudi Arabia.
Over time, different leaders helped it grow into a powerful empire with many cities.
The first leader was the Prophet Muhammad, who started the religion of Islam. After he died, Muslim leaders called caliphs carried on his work. A caliph was like a king, and when he died, his son or another family member would usually take over.
This meant the same powerful family would rule for many years, until a different powerful family would take charge.
Each family's time in power, and the places they ruled, was called a caliphate. The first caliphate was called the Rashidun. They took over new lands where different groups lived. Over time, many people in these areas chose to become Muslims too.
Then, the Umayyad took power. Their caliphate linked regions together and made Arabic the official language. They built great buildings like the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem.
Later, the Umayyads were defeated and the Abbasid caliphate began. Its capital, Baghdad, became a centre of learning and trade for people from many places.
Since the Prophet Muhammad, strong leaders, new lands, and learning helped the Islamic civilisation grow for over 700 years.
When did early Islamic civilisation begin?
The early Islamic civilisation began around AD600, more than 1,400 years ago.
It started in a city called Mecca.
Some historians believe it ended in the 13th century (1201-1300) when the city of Baghdad was destroyed.
Where was the early Islamic civilisation?
The early Islamic civilisation was not just one country.
The Islamic Empire spread over a huge area – from the Middle East, west to North Africa and Spain and east to India.
Important early Islamic cities were Baghdad (in modern-day Iraq), Córdoba in Spain and Cairo in Egypt.
These cities were full of busy markets, grand buildings and places of learning.
How did the early Islamic civilisation begin?
In Mecca in AD610 a man named Muhammad began to experience what he believed were messages from God.
People who believe in these messages are called Muslims.
The religion they followed was called Islam.
Prophet Muhammad later moved to the city of Medina and built a mosque - a place where Muslims pray.
He later returned to Mecca and many more people became Muslims.
After Muhammad's death, leaders called caliphs ruled the Islamic Empire and it continued to grow.
As people travelled, traded and learned together, new towns and cities were built. This is how the civilisation spread to many parts of the world.
Think like a historian
Have a look at the thinking points below and think about your answer to each question. You could even write them down on a piece of paper or discuss them with somebody else if you want to.
Why was it important for a city to grow and do well and how did that change the nearby towns?
How did travelling cause the Islamic civilisation to spread and what were the effects?
What would be the consequences if people stopped sharing their knowledge and skills?
Maybe you thought about whether more people might want to move to the city to work, trade or learn. This would mean more buying and selling of goods. Nearby towns could also grow and become busier.
Did you think about how travelling helped spread Islam to different areas? When people moved to new places they shared stories, religion and skills. Travelling allowed people to learn from each other. It also introduced them to new food, clothes and tools.
Perhaps you thought about what would happen if people didn’t share what they knew. Schools wouldn’t have new things to teach, and technology wouldn’t improve. People might not invent new tools or ways to do things.
Activity: Quiz – Introduction to early Islamic civilisation
Grown-ups corner
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Take a look at some of the links below on KS2 History which are packed full of knowledge, videos, quizzes and activities.
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