1. Arabic and Persian
Literature
A taste of the Middle East

2. Why is this study
important?
• 7thCentury 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.

3. Pre-Islamic Influence of
Persia
1000 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

5. 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

6. 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)

7. Persia and the Islamic
Empire
• The Samanids Islamic renaissance Bukhara

8. 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)

9. Literature
Pre-Islamic: oral traditions
elaborate odes (qasidas)
Avesta
Islamic Influence: Koran
Sufism poetry
Golden Age (753 AD)
Encouraged great works of art