Amazon.com
Islam: Empire of Faith is the epic PBS documentary that charts the history of Islam from its beginnings in Mecca and Medina in the seventh century to the glory of the Ottoman Empire 1,000 years later.
The demonization of Islam by the West has a long history, stretching back to the First Crusade at the end of the 11th century. This documentary redresses the balance by showing the riches of Islamic culture and the vital role played by Islam in preserving and building upon ancient wisdom from East and West at a time when most of Europe was stumbling through the Dark Ages. Muslim physicians, mathematicians, and astronomers stretched the boundaries of human knowledge, and Muslim architects created some of the most beautiful buildings in the world.
Islam also offers fascinating insights into key personalities, from Muhammad himself--a simple merchant whose vision of a single deity forged warring tribes into a nation--to great conquerors such as Mehmed and Suleyman, who presided over an empire that stretched from Spain to India. The faith itself is clearly explained, and interviews with historians and religious scholars bring home both its simplicity and the way that it survived huge cultural changes (like the Mongol invasions of the 13th century) to emerge stronger than ever. Islam has often been misunderstood in the West, but this splendid documentary helps to set the record straight. --Simon Leake
Description
ISLAM: EMPIRE OF FAITH, a three-part series, re-creates the spectacular sweep of Islamic power and faith during its first 1,000 years, from Muhammad's birth to the Ottoman Empire under Suleyman the Magnificent. Evocative re-enactments and art, artifacts, and architecture combine with scholarly interviews to recount the rise and glory of Islamic civilization. DVD includes behind-the-scenes look at the making of ISLAM and producer's commentary
Customer Reviews:
Informative and Beautiful.......2007-09-08
This is one my first introductions to the history of Islam and Islamic civilization (from its origins in Mecca and Medina, to the Ottoman leader Suleiman the Magnificent who died in 1566), so I can't speak to its theogical accuracy. That said, it told an enormous story with sensitiviy and beauty. The production values were superb. Its filming of palaces, forts, mosques, and countryside, and as well as historical reenactments, were beautiful to look at. Ben Kingsley is a great narrator, and the scholary commentary was informative. I would have given it 5 stars, but no other video in the Empires series, (that I have seen so far,) deserves that august rank other than The Medici: Godfathers of the Reniassance. Enjoy!
comprehensive and very updated . fundamental historical review.......2007-08-06
In modern days its fundamental to know the past to understand the present. This film is very comprehensive and very updated . It is a fundamental historical review
Good Documentary.......2007-04-26
This is a good documentary made by open-minded, non-biased, honest non-Muslims who took a look at history and told it like it is. This is a good intro to see the many contributions made by Muslims throughout history.
This PBS Series Stops at the End of the 16th Century---Before the Great Decline.......2007-02-08
I enjoyed, as far as it goes, Islam: Empire of Faith. One learns about the educational and cultural advances of the Islamic empires from 7th Century to the latter half of the 16th. During this time period the Muslim world valued secular learning and modern technology. It established hospitals and mammoth libraries unheard of in the Christian West. A certain degree of religious toleration even existed. The film producers, however, could have spent more time regarding the second class status of women---but the West admittedly was not doing much better in this regard. No, the problem is that this documentary study did not continue into the 17th Century when everything started to rapidly fall apart. Anti-intellectualism and ludditism started to become the norm. At times, a number of Islamic adherents even embraced a nihilistic interpretation of the their faith. Life is supposedly an awful thing and death is preferable. The previously backward West even surpassed the Muslims to the point of utter embarrassment.
What has the Islamic world accomplished in the last 400 to 500 years? The more affluent Muslims are compelled to send their children to the West to obtain a good education. Islamic dominated universities are usually nothing more than a joke. You should make a point to view this fine series. Immediately afterwards, you must read Bernard Lewis's What Went Wrong?: Western Impact and Middle Eastern Response. Another fine work is Robert Spencer's The Politically Incorrect Guide to Islam (and the Crusades).
David Thomson
Flares into Darkness
Empire of what?.......2007-01-11
Another contribution into the cause of Islamic apologetics. For people that want to convert only.
Amazon.com
Islam: Empire of Faith is the epic PBS documentary that charts the history of Islam from its beginnings in Mecca and Medina in the seventh century to the glory of the Ottoman Empire 1,000 years later.
The demonization of Islam by the West has a long history, stretching back to the First Crusade at the end of the 11th century. This documentary redresses the balance by showing the riches of Islamic culture and the vital role played by Islam in preserving and building upon ancient wisdom from East and West at a time when most of Europe was stumbling through the Dark Ages. Muslim physicians, mathematicians, and astronomers stretched the boundaries of human knowledge, and Muslim architects created some of the most beautiful buildings in the world.
Islam also offers fascinating insights into key personalities, from Muhammad himself--a simple merchant whose vision of a single deity forged warring tribes into a nation--to great conquerors such as Mehmed and Suleyman, who presided over an empire that stretched from Spain to India. The faith itself is clearly explained, and interviews with historians and religious scholars bring home both its simplicity and the way that it survived huge cultural changes (like the Mongol invasions of the 13th century) to emerge stronger than ever. Islam has often been misunderstood in the West, but this splendid documentary helps to set the record straight. --Simon Leake
Description
Between the fall of Rome and the European voyages of discovery, few events were more significant than the rise of Islam. Within a few centuries, the Islamic empires blossomed, projecting their power from Africa to the East Indies, and from Spain to India. Inspired by the words of the Prophet Muhammed, and led by caliphs and sultans, this political and religious expansion remains unequaled in speed, geographic size and endurance.
Islam: Empire of Faith is narrated by Academy Award®-winning actor Ben Kingsley. The three-hour program tells the spectacular story of the great sweep of Islamic power and faith during its first 1,000 years ‹ from the birth of the Prophet Muhammed to the peak of the Ottoman Empire under the reign of Suleyman the Magnificent. Historical re-enactments and a remarkable exposition of Islamic art, artifacts and architecture are combined with interviews of scholars from around the world to recount the rise and importance of early Islamic civilization. Increasingly, scholars and historians are recognizing the profound impact that Islamic civilization has had on Western culture and the course of world history.
Customer Reviews:
Informative and Beautiful.......2007-09-08
This is one my first introductions to the history of Islam and Islamic civilization (from its origins in Mecca and Medina, to the Ottoman leader Suleiman the Magnificent who died in 1566), so I can't speak to its theogical accuracy. That said, it told an enormous story with sensitiviy and beauty. The production values were superb. Its filming of palaces, forts, mosques, and countryside, and as well as historical reenactments, were beautiful to look at. Ben Kingsley is a great narrator, and the scholary commentary was informative. I would have given it 5 stars, but no other video in the Empires series, (that I have seen so far,) deserves that august rank other than The Medici: Godfathers of the Reniassance. Enjoy!
comprehensive and very updated . fundamental historical review.......2007-08-06
In modern days its fundamental to know the past to understand the present. This film is very comprehensive and very updated . It is a fundamental historical review
Good Documentary.......2007-04-26
This is a good documentary made by open-minded, non-biased, honest non-Muslims who took a look at history and told it like it is. This is a good intro to see the many contributions made by Muslims throughout history.
This PBS Series Stops at the End of the 16th Century---Before the Great Decline.......2007-02-08
I enjoyed, as far as it goes, Islam: Empire of Faith. One learns about the educational and cultural advances of the Islamic empires from 7th Century to the latter half of the 16th. During this time period the Muslim world valued secular learning and modern technology. It established hospitals and mammoth libraries unheard of in the Christian West. A certain degree of religious toleration even existed. The film producers, however, could have spent more time regarding the second class status of women---but the West admittedly was not doing much better in this regard. No, the problem is that this documentary study did not continue into the 17th Century when everything started to rapidly fall apart. Anti-intellectualism and ludditism started to become the norm. At times, a number of Islamic adherents even embraced a nihilistic interpretation of the their faith. Life is supposedly an awful thing and death is preferable. The previously backward West even surpassed the Muslims to the point of utter embarrassment.
What has the Islamic world accomplished in the last 400 to 500 years? The more affluent Muslims are compelled to send their children to the West to obtain a good education. Islamic dominated universities are usually nothing more than a joke. You should make a point to view this fine series. Immediately afterwards, you must read Bernard Lewis's What Went Wrong?: Western Impact and Middle Eastern Response. Another fine work is Robert Spencer's The Politically Incorrect Guide to Islam (and the Crusades).
David Thomson
Flares into Darkness
Empire of what?.......2007-01-11
Another contribution into the cause of Islamic apologetics. For people that want to convert only.
Customer Reviews:
Informative and Beautiful.......2007-09-08
This is one my first introductions to the history of Islam and Islamic civilization (from its origins in Mecca and Medina, to the Ottoman leader Suleiman the Magnificent who died in 1566), so I can't speak to its theogical accuracy. That said, it told an enormous story with sensitiviy and beauty. The production values were superb. Its filming of palaces, forts, mosques, and countryside, and as well as historical reenactments, were beautiful to look at. Ben Kingsley is a great narrator, and the scholary commentary was informative. I would have given it 5 stars, but no other video in the Empires series, (that I have seen so far,) deserves that august rank other than The Medici: Godfathers of the Reniassance. Enjoy!
comprehensive and very updated . fundamental historical review.......2007-08-06
In modern days its fundamental to know the past to understand the present. This film is very comprehensive and very updated . It is a fundamental historical review
Good Documentary.......2007-04-26
This is a good documentary made by open-minded, non-biased, honest non-Muslims who took a look at history and told it like it is. This is a good intro to see the many contributions made by Muslims throughout history.
This PBS Series Stops at the End of the 16th Century---Before the Great Decline.......2007-02-08
I enjoyed, as far as it goes, Islam: Empire of Faith. One learns about the educational and cultural advances of the Islamic empires from 7th Century to the latter half of the 16th. During this time period the Muslim world valued secular learning and modern technology. It established hospitals and mammoth libraries unheard of in the Christian West. A certain degree of religious toleration even existed. The film producers, however, could have spent more time regarding the second class status of women---but the West admittedly was not doing much better in this regard. No, the problem is that this documentary study did not continue into the 17th Century when everything started to rapidly fall apart. Anti-intellectualism and ludditism started to become the norm. At times, a number of Islamic adherents even embraced a nihilistic interpretation of the their faith. Life is supposedly an awful thing and death is preferable. The previously backward West even surpassed the Muslims to the point of utter embarrassment.
What has the Islamic world accomplished in the last 400 to 500 years? The more affluent Muslims are compelled to send their children to the West to obtain a good education. Islamic dominated universities are usually nothing more than a joke. You should make a point to view this fine series. Immediately afterwards, you must read Bernard Lewis's What Went Wrong?: Western Impact and Middle Eastern Response. Another fine work is Robert Spencer's The Politically Incorrect Guide to Islam (and the Crusades).
David Thomson
Flares into Darkness
Empire of what?.......2007-01-11
Another contribution into the cause of Islamic apologetics. For people that want to convert only.
DVD:
- Empires - The Greeks: Crucible of Civilization
- Empires - The Medici: Godfathers of the Renaissance
- Erin Brockovich
- Family Classics 50 Movie Pack Collection
- Fred Rogers - America's Favorite Neighbor
- Galapagos
- Getting the Knack
- Ghosts and the Paranormal World
- Grateful Dawg
- Great Moments in Opera from The Ed Sullivan Show
DVD
DVD
General
| Documentary
| Genres
| DVD
| Video
National Geographic - Inside Mecca
Inside Islam (History Channel)
Message (30th Anniversary Edition)
Empires - The Greeks: Crucible of Civilization
The History Channel Presents The Crusades - Crescent & The Cross
