750 – 1258
Medieval Baghdad, the Abbasid Dynasty’s capital, was a vibrant center of culture and learning. The era is famous for “One Thousand and One Nights,” a collection of stories that offer a glimpse into the rich cultural life of the time. Influential Islamic scholars made significant advancements in science, medicine, and philosophy, greatly impacting the intellectual heritage of the Middle Ages.
Picture books
Arabian Nights (Usborne Illustrated)
Lovely illustrated version of the Arabian Nights stories
Buy
The House of Wisdom
Wonderful story about a boy growing up in Baghdad’s famous library
Buy
One Wish: Fatima al-Fihri and the World’s Oldest University
Inspiring story about a girl who went on to found a university
Buy
Chapter books
Non-fiction books
The Arabs In The Golden Age
Easy-read overview of life and thought in the medieval Islamic empires
Buy
Daily Life in the Islamic Golden Age
Introduction to daily life in the medieval Islamic empires
Buy
The Genius of Islam: How Muslims Made the Modern World
Picture book introduction to the lasting cultural and scientific impact of medieval Islamic Empires
Buy
1001 Inventions: The Enduring Legacy of Muslim Civilization
Longer exploration of inventions from the medieval Islamic empire that shape our modern world
Buy
Biographies
The Amazing Discoveries of Ibn Sina
Picture biography of one of the greatest scientists, philosophers, and doctors of the Islamic world
Buy
Ibn Al-Baitar: Doctor of Natural Medicine
Charming picture book about a famous doctor and scientist whose discoveries are still important today
Buy
Ibn Majid: The Master Navigator
Picture book biography of a famous medieval explorer
Buy
Ibn al-Haytham: The Man Who Discovered How We See
NatGeo biography of a famous medieval scientist
Buy
Ibn Khaldun: The Great Historian
Picture book biography of a famous medieval historian
Buy