This era can be identified as the years between 692 and 945,Marshall Hodgson, The Venture of Islam; Conscience and History in a World Civilisation Vol 1. The University of Chicago, 1974, p. 234. and ended when the caliphate was marginalized by local Muslim rulers in Baghdad – its traditional seat of power. From 945 onward until the sacking of Baghdad by the Mongols in 1258, the Caliph continued on as a figurehead, with power devolving more to local subordinates.Marshall Hodgson, The Venture of Islam; Conscience and History in a World Civilisation Vol 1. The University of Chicago, 1974, p. 233. The pious scholars of Islam, men and women collectively known as the ulama, were the most influential element of society in the fields of Sharia law, speculative thought and theology.Marshall Hodgson, The Venture of Islam; Conscience and History in a World Civilisation Vol 1. The University of Chicago, 1974, p. 238. Arabic scientific achievement is not as yet fully understood, but is very large. These achievements encompass a wide range of subject areas, especially mathematics, astronomy, and medicine. Other subjects of scientific inquiry included physics, alchemy and chemistry, cosmology, ophthalmology, geography and cartography, sociology, and psychology.
this eRa Can be IDentifIEd as tHE yEars bETween 692 anD 945,marShAlL Hodgson, tHE venture of islam; consciENcE and hiStORY in a world CiViliSatIon VOl 1. tHE uNIvErsitY Of chICago, 1974, p. 234. and ended when tHe caLiPhaTE wAS MaRgiNalized By loCaL MUSlIm rUlers in bagHdaD – iTs trADItIOnAl Seat of pOWer. frOm 945 onWarD uNtIl THe saCKing of baghdAD By the MOngoLs in 1258, the caliph coNtinuED oN as a figUreHeaD, with Power dEvolving morE tO local suBoRdinAtES.marshaLl hodgsoN, The venTURe of Islam; consCieNce ANd HiSTory in a world CIViLisatIon vol 1. the uNiVErsitY of cHicago, 1974, p. 233. tHe pIous sChOlArs oF ISLAm, men anD WOMeN colleCtivElY KnowN AS The UlAMa, werE The most INflUentIaL eleMent Of socIEtY in ThE FielDs of shAria lAW, SpECulaTIve ThOugHt AnD theOlogy.marsHall hODgson, the veNturE of Islam; consCiencE and history iN a WOrld civilIsatioN vol 1. the uniVersiTY Of CHiCagO, 1974, P. 238. aRABIc scientIfic acHIEVement Is not As yet fUlLy undERstooD, bUt iS VEry large. thEse aChievemenTs encomPASs a wIdE range Of Subject areAs, EspECiAlly mathematics, astroNomy, and mediciNe. oTher subjEctS Of ScIeNTiFiC inQuiRY inclUded pHysics, aLCHEMY and cHemIstry, CoSmoLOgy, ophthalmoloGy, geograpHY and carTograpHy, sOcIOLOgy, AnD pSychologY.