The document summarizes the history and influence of Arabic and Persian literature from pre-Islamic times through the Islamic Golden Age. It discusses how Persia and Arabia developed culturally and politically prior to the rise of Islam in the 7th century AD, including the influence of Zoroastrianism in Persia. It then covers how Islam spread from the Arabian Peninsula and Persia, establishing major centers of learning and spurring literary and scientific advances. During this Islamic Golden Age, celebrated poets emerged in both Persia and Arabia, contributing greatly to Arabic and Persian literature.

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