c. 1000–1300 CEPeer-reviewedWell documented
Hashish and the Islamic World
On the timeline · around c. 1000–1300 CE ·
What happened
As alcohol was forbidden in Islam, hashish — concentrated cannabis resin — spread through the medieval Islamic world, from Persia to Egypt. It appears in poetry, medicine and folklore, and its use provoked recurring debate and attempts at prohibition.
Why it matters
The word 'hashish' entered global vocabulary here, and this era carried cannabis westward toward Europe and Africa.