EMC: Abstract: Islam: Empire of Faith

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Islam: Empire of Faith

• 2000 ----- color ----- 163 min ----- vhs
• Tells the story of the great sweep of Islamic power and faith during its first 1,000 years--from the birth of the prophet Muhammad to the peak of the Ottoman Empire under the reign of Suleyman the Magnificent. Historical re-enactments, filmed in Iran under the art direction and design of the famed Majid Mirfakhraei, and a remarkable exposition of Islamic art, artifacts and architecture are combined with interviews with scholars have produced this remarkable achievement.
• The Messenger (54 min) Through the extraordinary life of the prophet Muhammad and his simple but revolutionary message, the dramatic story of Islam's beginning is told. Covers the revelation and early writing of the Koran, the creation of the first mosque, the persecution suffered by the first Muslims and the major battles fought by Muhammad and his followers to establish the new religion. The rapid religious, cultural and political expansion of Islam overwhelms the empires of Persia and Byzantium, creating a new empire larger than Rome.
• The Awakening (54 min) Examines the flowering of Islam into one of the great civilizations in history. Culture and goods flow freely throughout a large empire. Islamic principles and influence are spread further, affecting the intellectual development of the West. Arabic becomes the language of learning, and achievements in art, architecture, science and medicine flourish. Tells the story of the Crusades and describes the recapture of Jerusalem by Saladin the Great, ending with the devastating Mongol invasion of Islamic lands.
• The Ottomans (55 min) Reveals the dramatic transformation of Islam resulting from the Mongol invasion. Nomads enlisted by Muslims to fight the Mongols stake their own claims and become known as Ottomans. The Ottomans create a new empire that expands westward into Christian territories. Suleyman the Magnificent shapes the Ottomans into a military powerhouse and an empire of wealth and sophistication, which threatens the power centers of Europe and the empire of the Persian Safavids before falling to enemies from within (Closed-Captioned).
• Topics: (Anthropology: Cultural, Art: History, History: Middle Eastern, Middle Eastern Studies, Political Science: Middle Eastern, Religions: Islamic)

		Educational Media Collection risimiki@u.washington.edu Modified: January 11, 2007