AN EMPIRES SPECIAL: ISLAM: EMPIRE OF FAITH: THE AWAKENING {EPISODE 2 OF 3} (TV)
Summary
Episode two of three. This program, narrated by Ben Kingsley, tells the story of the Islamic religion from its foundation in the sixth century by the Prophet Mohammed through the height of the Ottoman Empire in the sixteenth century. This episode focuses on the spread of the Islamic faith through the continents of Asia, Africa and Europe from the seventh century on, and with it, advances in mathematics, science, art, literature and trade. George Saliba discusses the political reconfigurations that occurred on the religious foundations of Islam. John Renard talks about the hajj as a physical manifestation of the Islamic tenants of unity and equality among all people. Sheila Blair discusses the opening of borders by the spread of Islam for the first time since Alexander the Great, encouraging trade from Europe to China. Blair, Saliba, Jonathan Bloom, and Ahmet Karomustafa discuss the development of Baghdad as the cultural and intellectual heart of the Islamic world, covering the following topics: the attraction the city held for scholars from across the globe; the ethnic and religious diversity of the population of scholars; the growth of scholarship as a competitive industry in the new empire; the dispersal of Islamic scholars to all parts of the Empire in search of knowledge; the assimilation of ideas from Hindu and Hellenic cultures; the development of the scientific process in research and other developments in modern mathematics, engineering, astronomy and medicine based on the Islamic separation of faith and reason; and the development of paper as a means of spreading knowledge throughout the Islamic lands. Next, the experts discuss the spread of Islamic culture and advances to Europe with the Moors. The program looks at Cordoba, Spain, which at its height in the ninth and tenth centuries rivaled Baghdad. Blair contrasts Cordoba, the "City of Lights," with other European cities, such as Paris. Blair and Renard talk about the Cordoba Cathedral and its origins as a mosque, the largest in Europe. Carole Hillenbrand discusses Islamic architecture, particularly the Cordoba mosque as the source of Cathedral architecture, and the Alhambra palace in Grenada. Walter Denny and Hillenbrand discuss the causes and effects of the Crusades. Hillenbrand discusses the effects of the Islamic "good life" on the crusaders. Blair discusses further developments in trade, such as checks. Blair and Bloom talk about the booming textile industry, which was the main source of fine fabrics for the Church and European nobility. Denny and Hillenbrand discuss the arrival of Saladin on the scene and his routing of the Jerusalem crusading forces. Bloom and Hillenbrand talk about the changes in the tastes of the returning crusaders, and the subsequent European market for spices and textiles. Blair discusses the resultant openness toward other cultures in Europe, which spurred the European Renaissance. Ahmet talks about the unified culture of Islam that was almost destroyed by the Mongols in the thirteenth century. Esin Atil and Victoria Holbrook talk about the positive effect the Mongol invasion had after the Mongols began converting and opened up Islamic rule to non-Arabs, clearing the way for the Ottoman Empire. Cataloging is funded by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, 2003.
Details
- NETWORK: PBS
- DATE: May 8, 2001 Tuesday 8:55 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:55:00
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T:75504
- GENRE: Public affairs/Documentaries
- SUBJECT HEADING: Public affairs/Documentaries; Turkey - History - Ottoman Empire, 1288-1918; Islam
- SERIES RUN: PBS - TV, 2001
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Brian Donegan … Executive Producer
- Ron Devillier … Executive Producer
- Greg Diefenbach … Supervising Producer
- Morteza Shayesta … Producer
- Robert Gardner … Producer, Director
- Char Gardner … Associate Producer
- Hussam Ali … Field Producer
- Motaz Hadaya … Field Producer
- Mark Nino … Field Producer
- Kamel Riadi … Field Producer
- Zarife Ozturk … Field Producer
- Georgio de Marchi … Field Producer
- Jonathan Grupper … Writer
- Patrick Prentice … Writer
- Richard Roughton … Writer
- Leonard Lionnet … Music by
- Ben Kingsley … Narrator
- Alexander the Great
- Esin Atil
- Sheila Blair
- Jonathan Bloom
- Walter B. Denny
- Carole Hillenbrand
- Victoria Holbrook
- Ahmet Karomustafa
- John Renard
- George Saliba
- Saladin
- Michael Sells