Final answer:
Madrasas were formal educational institutions in the Islamic Golden Age, offering a curriculum encompassing religious studies and various fields such as mathematics, science, and philosophy, led by scholars like Ibn Sina. Centers of learning in cities like Baghdad and Córdoba not only taught Islamic law but also advanced scientific thought, with knowledge pursuit being seen as an act of worship.
Step-by-step explanation:
The establishments referred to in the question are madrasas, historical institutions providing advanced education. These institutions were integral to the Islamic Golden Age, when learned individuals cultivated various disciplines under the patronage of the Muslim world. Notably, the Abbasid Caliphate played a pivotal role in enhancing literacy, melding Islamic studies with other branches of knowledge, such as science, mathematics, and philosophy. Famous scholars, including Ibn Sina and Ibn Rushd, made significant contributions to preserving and innovating classical philosophy and the sciences through their works.
The centers of learning located in cities like Baghdad, Alexandria, and Córdoba were not only religious seminaries but were also crucibles of scientific thought and inquiry. Core subjects included Islamic law, theology, astronomy, chemistry, and the Quranic studies, illustrating a comprehensive educational approach. The pursuit of knowledge was deemed a form of worship, in line with the view that scientific discovery was understanding the divine creation.
Notable Islamic cities fostered an environment where scholarship thrived, supported by the material wealth and religious tolerance of different faiths. This milieu facilitated the translation and preservation of ancient texts and the forging of new frontiers in various fields, including medical sciences, astronomy, and especially mathematics, as seen with the origin of the term 'algebra' from Al-Kwarizmi's works. Additionally, these educational centers contributed to rising literacy rates, technological advances, and economic prosperity within the Islamic civilization.