Layla and Majnun
Layla and Majnun at school together, from a manuscript of the Khamsa that belonged to Timur's son and is now in the Hermitage Museum (1431 AD). An Iranian story This [...]
30
08, 2017
27
07, 2017
Al Ghazali – Medieval Islamic science
Tomb of the scholar Qabus, Gurgan, Iran (built about 1010 AD) Who was al Ghazali? Al Ghazali was a scientist and philosopher in medieval Central Asia. More about Islamic science [...]
26
07, 2017
What is Sufism? History of Islam
Sufi dancers Not long after the foundation of Islam and the life of Mohammed, about 650 AD, there were people who became known as Sufis (SOO-fees). Sufis can be Sunni or Shiite. These people wanted a more [...]
25
07, 2017
Islamic poetry – Medieval Islam
The poet Rumi (1200s AD) Arabic poetry has a long tradition in the Arabian peninsula even before the development of Islam. People composed and recited long poems that they remembered without writing down. [...]
23
07, 2017
Medieval Islamic food – Oranges and sugar
Orange tree: medieval Islamic food included new sweet oranges What did medieval people eat? Around the Mediterranean, people continued in the Islamic period to rely on the three main foods from [...]
21
07, 2017
The Blind Men and the Elephant
Mughal painting of the blind men and the elephant, from the 1600s AD (now in Walters Art Museum) A story that's a metaphor Once there was an elephant, a tame [...]
20
07, 2017
Lalla Arifa’s Sufi poetry – Medieval India
Indian food: rice, chapatis, sauces, lentils A second poem: When to this self I was firmly attached, from me, hidden You were still staying. While I was seeking You, time [...]
20
07, 2017
Lalla Arifa – Poetry – Medieval India
Spinning thread in the garden, like Lalla Arifa (1400s AD) Lalla Arifa growing up Lalla Arifa lived in the 1300s AD, in Kashmir, in northern India. Most people in medieval Kashmir [...]
20
07, 2017
Stories of ancient India
Harappan Seal One of the earliest known writing systems came from India, probably around 2500 BC. Unfortunately, nobody can read the Harappan writing yet. But we know people were using this writing to [...]
1
06, 2017
Central Asian religion from Deva to Islam
Bamiyan Buddhas (Afghanistan, ca. 500 AD, now destroyed by the Taliban) - Central Asian religion Many different religions Central Asia's wide steppe is very easy to ride horses or camels [...]
