Islamic Civilization: Industrial Progress
xenolith
INDUSTRIAL PROGRESS
The achievements of Muslims in the industrial field had not been less
spectacular than those in the political and intellectual spheres. The
Muslims during the Caliphate of Abbasids and Omayyads in Spain had developed
their industries to such a high degree of perfection that their finished
products were viewed with wonder at the imperial-courts of Europe. The watch
presented by Harun-ar-Rashid to Charlemagne, emperor of France was regarded
as an object of wonder. Their manufactured goods had captured the markets of
the known world, and their fabrics formed the favourite dresses of the
ladies of the imperial houses of Europe. But, the west has always taken
pains to minimise the achievements of Muslims, and John William Draper has
rather gone out of the way in his outspoken book The Intellectual
Development of Europe when he says, "I have to deplore the systematic manner
in which the literature of Europe has contrived to put out of sight our
scientific obligations to the Mohammedans. Surely, they cannot be much
longer hidden - The Arab has left his intellectual impress over Europe, as,
before long, Christendom will have to confess; he has indelibly written it
on the heavens, as anyone may see who reads the names of the stars on a
common celestial globe"
The genius of the Arabs, who formed the vanguard of human civilization
during mediaeval times, manufactured novel things and organised large-scale
production of commodities which were liberally supplied to different parts
of the world. Their enterprising merchants carried their finished products
to the outermost parts of the world. The merchant navy of Muslim Spain alone
comprised 1,000 ships.
Abbasids
The. Abbasid Caliphate provided the most congenial atmosphere for the
intellectual, cultural and industrial developments of the Muslims. It was in
this period that the Arabs were given the fullest opportunity to display
their talents in-different walks of life. Harun and Mamun were the greatest
patrons of arts and sciences during mediaeval times. Mutasim is particularly
known for the interest he exhibited in the industrial enterprises of his
empire. He had many industrial- projects executed during his lifetime and a
large number of factories were established in Iraq. Manufactures of every
kind were encouraged and fostered. The glass and soap made in the factories
of Basrah were famous throughout the world. During the reign of Mutasim
Billah, a large number of factories sprang up round about Baghdad and in
other important cities of Iraq. The paper industry particularly received
much impetus, and in important paper factories, skilled workmen from Egypt
were employed. Persia was noted for her gold and embroidery work, which was
carried on in all the big cities. High class fabrics including satin
brocade, silk and carpets were manufactured in Islamic domains and were in
great demand all over the world. Kufa was famous for its silk and silk
handkerchiefs known as kuffiyeh. Khuzistan (ancient Susiana) produced
superfine cloth. "The beautiful brocade of Tester", says an eminent
orientalist, "the rich carpets of Korkub and the silks and satins of Sus
were in request all over the world. The other provinces were equally famous
for their splendid manufactures. Susangrid contained a royal factory for
gold embroidery of damask, camel-hair fabrics and carpets. It also produced
embroidered curtains made of spun silk (kazz) for the sultan, and raw silk,
camel and goat hair materials. Here were manufactured splendid cloaks of
spun silk, considered superior to the striped woollen cloaks of Shiraz. The
wealthy cities of Khorasan were active in the production of brocades
carpets, rugs, hangings, coverings for cushions, and woollen fabrics of all
kinds. In short every city in the empire had its own particular manufacture
in metal, glass, wool, silk or linen. Syria was famous for its manufacture
of glass, and as early as the second century of the Hejra parti-coloured and
enamelled glass was produced" Jundeshapur was the seat of the first
observatory and the first college of natural sciences in the world. This
college gave an impetus to the development of industry and commerce. The
chemical research in this college led to the knowledge of sugar refining
which was successfully applied to sugar industry in Khuzistan and later on
in Spain. Spain produced high class sugar. The commodities exported during
Abbasid Caliphate were agricultural produce, glass, hardware, silk,
textiles, perfumes of all kinds, rose water, saffron, syrup, oil, etc.
Spain
The Muslim kingdom of Spain had become a very prosperous State due to the
extensive industries developed there and the large-scale production carried
on in the factories. Her revenues obtained through commercial duties,
according to a European author, exceeded the entire revenues of all the
Christian states of Europe taken tagether. "Spain under the Caliphate"
according to - Philip K. Hitti, "was one of the wealthiest and most thickly
populated lands of Europe".Cordova, the capital of the Moorish State had 13
thousand looms and a flourishing leather industry. The art of tanning and
embossing leather had been developed to a high degree of perfection and from
here it spread-to Morocco, England and France as the terms 'Cordovan',
'Cordwainer' and 'Morocco' indicate. The celebrated Spanish historian
Maqarri has written that high class woollen and silken fabrics were
manufactured not only in Cordova, but also in Malaya, Almeria and other
towns. Almeria also produced glassware and brasswork. Sericulture was much
developed in Spain. According to Ibn Khatib, Valencia was the home of
pottery. Mining industry was fully developed. Jaen and Algrava were famous
for their mines of gold and silver, Cordova for its iron and lead and Malaga
for its rubies. According to Ibn Hauqal 'Toledo like Damascus was known
throughout the- world for it's swords? "The art of inlaying steel and other
metals" says a celebrated western orientalist "with gold and silver and
decorating them with flower patterns, which was introduced from Damascus,
flourished in several European and Spanish centres and left a linguistic
heritage in such words as 'damascene' 'damaskeen', French 'darnasquiner' and
Latin 'damschina'.
Muslim Spain was a leading State in textile industry. It produced high class
cotton, woollen and silken fabrics, which captured the European markets.
Cordova had 13,000 and Almeria 4,800 looms, "In the development of sumptuous
textile arts" writes Philip K. Hitti "which made Arabic speaking people the
leading fabric makers and silk mercersin the mediaeval world, the Arabs of
Spain had a share but in carpet making Spain offered no serious competition
to Eastern, specially Persian market" The word muslin has been derived from
the word 'mussolina' a cotton fabric supplied to Italy from al-Mausil, The
fine silken fabric supplied by Baghdad to Italy was called Baldacoo or
Baldachin and it was used in the decoration of big churches of Europe.
Similarly during the 13th and 14th centuries, A.D. Granada, the capital of
the last Muslim kindgom in Spain supplied European dress shops with
grenadines. Muslim workmen were mainly responsible in setting up textile
industry in France and Italy.
The Moors had converted the barren lands of Spain into a garden and
agriculture was developed to a high degree. Agricultural industry also
flourished in Spain. Seville alone had several thousand oil factories.
Besides the textiles and agricultural industries, paper, Porcelain
earthenware, iron, steel and leather industries were carried on on an
extensive scale. The tapestries of Cordova, the woollen stuffs of Murcia,
the silk of Granada, Almeria and Seville, the steel and gold work of Toledo
and the paper of Salibat were sought all over the world. It was the Arabs
who introduced the manufacture of silk and cotton fabrics in Spain. They had
specialised in the art of dyeing and had invented black dyeing with indigo.
The glazed tiles used in the palaces of Alhambra and the fine vases still
found there bear ample testimony to their perfection in the manufacture of
porcelain. The manufacture of gun-powder,sugar, and paper were introduced
into Spain by Muslims.
Persia
Among eastern Muslim countries, Persia was noted for its fabrics and
carpets. Even upto the present day, Persia has maintained an extensive
carpet industry and Persian carpets are considered to be the best in the
world. The Persians have proved themselves masters of decorative designs and
colour applications since time immemorial. Their fine arts including
potteries, tiles and other decorative things reached a high degree of
excellence. Hunting and garden seen were woven on Persian carpets and rugs.
India
During the reign of the great Mughals and even afterwards Muslims were the
pioneers in cottage industries. Even today almost all the cottage industries
in the Indo-Pak subcontinent are in Muslim hands. The muslin of Dacca, the
woollen rugs (shawl) of Kashmir, the silken fabrics of Benares, the
embroidery of Lucknow, the silver work of Bedar, the potteries of Multan,
the furniture of Bareiliy and the brassware of Moradabad are manufactured
and maintained by Muslim craftsman.
Fine Arts
"In the ceramics, another art as ancient' as Egypt and Susa" says Caston
Migeon, "the reproduction of human form and of animals and plants as well as
geometric and epigraphic figures attained a beauty of decorative style
unsurpassed in any other Muslim art"Beautiful Kashani tiles with flowers
painted on them were a speciality of Persia which were in great demand all
over the world. "Among the Treasures of the Louvre", writes Philip
K. -Hitti, "the British Museum and the Arab Museum of Cairo are exquisite
pieces from Samarra and Al-Fustat including plates, cups, vases, ewers and
lamps for home and mosque use, painted with brilliant radiantlustres and
acquiring through the ages metallic glazes of changing rainbow hue"."
Decorative articles of luxury were produced on a large scale in Persia,
Iraq, Spain and Egypt and they adorned the palaces of the nobles and rulers
of the world. A goblet of the palace of Fatimids was sold for 360 dinars.
Decorative writings were painted on glasses which were hung in palaces and
mosques.
The jewellery industry also flourished during the time of the Abbasids.
Harun-ar-Rashid. had purchased a ruby for 40,000 dinars and Yahya Ibn Khalid
once offered 70,00,000 dirhams for a jewel box. Persia and Spain were the
great centres of fine arts industries. The Hispano Moresque school excelled
in metal work. One of such relies of the time of Hisham II (976--1009 A.D.)
is preserved on the high altar of the cathedral of Geroma in the form of a
wooden casket sheathed with silver gilt plating patterned in responsory with
scroll like foliation. According to a European writer in the application of
coloured glazes to earthenware, Muslims were from an early period past
masters. In Europe Valencia was the centre of ceramics and pottery
industries. The potteries of Muslim Spain were later imitated in the
Nertherlands and Italy. Glazed and coloured tiles were also produced in
Spain and exported to European countries. Exquisite pottery was made in
Toledo, Cordova, Malaga and Valencia.
Textiles
Textile industry flourished in almost all the Muslim countries. The fine
woollen, cotton and silken fabrics including rugs, tapestries, satin,
brocade (dibaj), sofa (sllffbt) and muslin manufactured in Muslim countries
were matchless and were exported to all parts of the civilized world. These
fabrics were in great demand in the Imperial palaces of the East and the
West. Persian carpets are still considered the best in the world. Writing in
the Legacy of Islam, J. H. Kramers says "But at the time of Islamic
prosperity it had made possible a development of industrial skill which
brought the artistic value of the products to an unequalled height....It is
curious to note, too, that the State robes of mediaeval German Emperors bore
Arabic inscriptions"During the Abbasid Caliphate carpets and textiles
manufactured in Iraq and Persia maintained a high standard of workmanship. A
rug costing 13,00,00,000 dirhams, set with jewels was made for the mother of
al-Mutasim. A fabric called Tabi was introduced by the Arabs into Spain,
which had a good market in Italy and other European countries. A number of
factories were established in Tawwaj, Fasa and other cities of Faris where
fine textiles, brocades, carpets and robes were manufactured. Tester and
Susa, towns in Khuzistan had factories for the embroidery of 'damask', a
silken cloth originated in Damascus--which was used to make curtains. Among
the specialities of Khuzistan were woollen fabrics made of goat and camel
hair and spun silk cloaks. Shiraz, the famous city of Persia was known
throughout the East for its woollen cloaks and brocades. Khorasan and
Armenia manufactured tapestries, sofas, curtains and cushion covers, while
Bokhara was noted for its prayer rugs. Egypt also produced high class
fabrics including Dabigi and Tinnisi which had a high reputation in the
world markets.
Other Industries
A large number of finished products and other articles were exported from
Muslim countries. Even the small province of Tranxonia exported among other
things soap, carpets, copper lamps, felt-cloaks, fur, amber, honey,
scissors, swords, looms, tables, sofas, lamps, vases, earthenware and
kitchen utensils. The Syrian towns specially Sidon and Tyre were noted for
their fine glass and metal vessels which were sought all over the world and
were used as articles of utility and luxury. Ibn Batuta found Damascus as
the centre of Mosaic and Kashani industry, which were used for decorative
purposes in the construction of palatial buildings. The paper manufactured
in Samarqand was considered to be the best in the world. The first paper
factory in Baghdad was established by the end of 8th century A. D. Paper
mills were founded in Egypt, Morocco and Spain before the end of 12th
century A. D. "From Muslim Spain" says a European writer, "in the 12th and
13th centuries, the manufacture of paper finally worked its way into
Christian Europe". The Abbasid caliph al-Mustasim Billah was a great patron
of industries. The keen interest shown by him led to the rapid
industrialization of Iraq and other countries. He opened big soap and glass
factories in Baghdad, Samarra and other towns.
Mining
Mines were worked in almost all the Muslim countries. The rich mines of
Spain yielded iron, copper, lead, gold, silver and rubies. Transaxonian
mines yielded marble, mercury, rubies, asbestos and azurite. Karman had big
lead and silver mines. Pearls were obtained from Bahrein, carnelian from
Sana, turquoise from Neshapur, rubies from Badakhshan, iron from Mt.
Lebanon, kaolin and marble from Tabriz. Syria and Palestine had large
sulphur mines. Capable engineers and miners were employed in the iron mines
of Khorasan (Persia) and lead and silver mines of Karman (Persia). Georgian
mines yielded bitumen and naphtha. Thus the mineral resources of the Muslim
countries were fully tapped and worked. The countries noted for their mining
industry were Persia, Spain, Caucasia, Transaxonia and Palestine.
Ship Building
Arabs who were the greatest sailors and mariners of mediaeval times carried
on an extensive sea-borne trade between the East and the West. To meet this
increasing sea-borne commerce, ship-yards were built in all the important
ports of Muslim countries, which were called Darul Sanayeh, The ports of
Abla and Sirafin the Persian Gulf, Tunis on the North African Coast, Dania
in Spain, Sus in Morocco, Palermo and Messina in Muslim Sicily, Bari in
Muslim Italy and Acre in Syria had ship building factories. During the
Omayyad caliphate such a factory was founded in Ashbilia (Syria) and during
the reign of Abbasids a big ship building yard existed in Sus. The
celebrated conqueror Saladin had established a large ship building yard in
Beirut to enable him to meet the challenge of the crusaders. Egypt had
several ship building yards. The first of this kind was established in 54 A.
H. in Egypt. The Fatimid caliphs had ship building factories in Cairo,
Alexandria and Diametta.
The skill of Muslim craftsmen has now been acknowledged by liberal European
writers. Writing in his well known work Intellectual Development of Europe
John William Draper says, "They (Arabs) also promoted many important
branches of industry improved the manufacture of textile, fabrics,
earthenware, iron, steel, the Toledo sword blades were everywhere prized for
their temper. The Arabs, on their expulsion from Spain, carried the
manufacture of a kind of leather, in which they were acknowledged to excel,
to Morocco, from which country the leather itself has now taken its name.
They also introduced inventions of a more ominous kind gunpowder and
artillery. The canon they used appeared to have been made of wrought iron.
But perhaps they more than compensated for these evil contrivances by the
introduction of mariner's compass".l
R. Briffault says, "By and by the manufactures of the East were introduced
and imitated in the Christian Europe. Silk looms were established in Norman
Sicily. Venice copied with the aid of native craftsmen the glassware of
Antioch, Lyons the 'Damasks', Paris the 'Tapis Surrasins' and Rheims the
linen of Syria. The rich dyes of the East were brought to Bruges, where they
were used to prepare English wool for the market. The wares of Spain and
Majorica led to the establishment of Italian factories for the manufacture
of majolica. Sugar factories were transferred from Sicily to Italy and from
Spain to south France".
Copied from 'THE ISLAMIC SCHOLAR'