Geography of the Islamic Empire

During the Islamic Empire, the geography played a big role in the spread of Islam, the growth of the Empire, and the Golden Age. The center of the Empire was in Saudi Arabia. It was located on a peninsula surrounded by the Mediterranean Sea, Arabian Sea, Persian Gulf, and the Red Sea. In addition, the peninsula was mostly desert and had very little rainfall and no major rivers or lakes. Many trade routes went through this area, which caused many cities to expand along the edges of the area. Also, because of scarce resources, there were many nomadic tribes like the Bedouins traveled from place to place in order to find food and water. The nomads would come to be helpful for guiding traders through the harsh terrain so that they could trade both goods and ideas with others. With the spread of news and ideas, many people could learn about Islam, and therefore more people became Muslim. Also, the Empire was in ideal location to conquer new land for the empire; consequently spreading culture and religion to other parts of the world. The geographical location and climate of the Arabian Peninsula ultimately contributed to the spread of Islam and the trade routes helped this Empire enter its Golden Age.


Thanks to its convenient location amid the trade routes, such as the Silk Road, the Islamic Empire was able to trade many goods, which would come to cause its Golden Age. The Silk Road was a very successful trade rout going through parts of Asia and Eastern Europe. This route carried many items that were in high demand; silk, gold, silver food, tapestries, and carpets were among some of the most commonly traded along this route. Consequently, all the trade caused the empire to gain a lot of wealthy, and with money comes power and riches, which are necessities for a civilizations Golden Age. Another way that geography contributed the golden age of the Islamic Empire is the ability for ideas to travel along the trade as would goods. Since people would talk about the new Islamic religion, people would travel to cities to convert and worship their god. This significantly contributed to the Spread of Islam, therefore causing the Muslim population to grow. Overall, the trade routes going through the empire spread both wealth and ideas over hundreds of miles.

Another reason the geography contributed the growth of the Islamic Empire was the positions of Baghdad and Mecca. Both of these cities were important trading ports in the Empire and people would travel for miles just to sell their products in the Bazaar. In addition, Mecca was the religious center for Islam and many people traveled there every year to make their hajj. Other people would travel to learn and study Islam and even convert to that religion. The cities would prove to be instrumental in the expansion of Islam and Golden Age of the Empire.

Works Cited
"Silk Road - Trading Goods." Advantour: Tourism in Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Russia : Travel Guides. Web. 21 Mar. 2011. <http://www.advantour.com/silkroad/goods.htm>.

Traveling in a Caravan

Several hundred years ago in what is now Saudi Arabia traders would travel in large groups called caravans. They would use Camels as transportation for traveling across the vast desserts. I imagine it was a very difficult journey. To spend all day in a scorching hot desert on top of an uncomfortable camel as you slowly but surly inched closer to the next city. You would have to conserve a lot of water, making sure to carry lots with you at all times. In addition, finding food would be difficult if your food supply ran out. Traveling for hours a day would be horribly boring, doing nothing but sit atop a camel and stare off into the seemingly unending desert before you. Then., after days or even weeks of traveling across the barren desert you come across an oasis that promises relief in the form of fresh water and vegetation. After a brief stay at the oasis you would once again voyage into the hot, dry dessert. Again, you would travel atop the camels as they carries both you, your companions, and your supplies/ goods for trading. At night you would set up camp and sleep beneath the stars. What a relief it would be that the sun had gone down and with it the temperature of the desert. Finally, you reach a city. You and your companions from the caravan go sell your goods in the magnificent bazaars and trade for other products you can sell. After you replenish your equipment and food, you once again set out to cross the vast dessert to go to another town for more trade. The journey for a caravan would never be easy, but with determination and knowledge it can be worth the trip. Traders made a lot of money in caravans because they brought goods that were in high demand and also helped businesses by buying products from them or selling them something. In conclusion, caravans would spend many days and weeks traveling in the desert before they finally made it to a city and were able to sell their products.