Islam is one of the world's major religions, and in ancient times, the Islamic world was one of the world's major societies. This volume provides a sweeping look at the important contributions people of the Islamic world made to learning, architecture, trade, the military, and religion. Readers will learn about the birth of Islam through the height of Islamic rule, life in the Ottoman Empire, and the culture's decline. Coverage of architecture, education, class structure, trade, and the role of men and women supports elementary social studies curricula. Readers will gain an essential understanding of daily life in the culture, as well as its long-standing legacy.