The Golden Age of Islam

The Islamic Golden Age, which lasted from the 8th through the 13th century ("Islamic Golden Age"), was a period of great scientific, cultural, and economic thriving in Islam's history. Muslims were able to construct one of the largest empires in history during the reign of Caliph Harun al-Rashid (786 to 809 A.D.), and this period began during the reign of Caliph Harun al-Rashid (786 to 809 A.D.).

Caliphs (Islamic successors and commanders) established the Abbasid caliphate list (the third Islamic caliphate to succeed Prophet Muhammed (phuh)) in Baghdad, Iraq, at the period ("The Golden Age Of Islam"). And, baghdad is the abbasid capital.

A more detailed information on caliph of baghdad and the golden age of islam is discussed here.

Overview of Baghdad

The Islamic Golden Age refers to a time in Islam's history, generally covering the 8th to 13th centuries, during which various caliphates ruled much of the historically Islamic world and science, economic development, and cultural works flourished. The House of Wisdom in Baghdad was established during the time of the Abbasid caliph Harun al-Rashid (786–809), and experts from all over the world with diverse cultural backgrounds were given with gathering and translating all of the world's classical knowledge into Arabic.

The Mongolian Sack of Baghdad in 1258, or the completion of the Christian Reconquista of the Emirate of Granada in Al-Andalus, Iberian Peninsula, in 1492, are two different dates for the end of the age. Baghdad, Cairo, and Córdoba, the three Islamic capital cities, became the principal intellectual centres for science, philosophy, medicine, and education throughout the Golden Age. The government bestowed financial assistance on scholars, and the top scholars and prominent translators, such as Hunayn ibn Ishaq, were paid salaries similar to those paid to professional athletes today.

The School of Nisibis, and later the School of Edessa, became centres for classical wisdom study and transmission. The House of Wisdom served as a library, translation institution, and academy, while the Alexandra Library and the Imperial Library of Constantinople held new works of literature. The Jundishapur hospital and medical academy were famous in the late Sassanid, Umayyad, and early Abbasid periods, and Nestorian Christians played a significant role in the formation of Arab culture. Eight generations of the Nestorian Bukhtishu family functioned as private doctors to caliphs and sultans throughout the eighth and eleventh centuries.

Abbasid Caliphate List

The Umayyad Dynasty took power after Muhammad's death and a brief period by the Rashidun Caliphs (the caliph of baghdad). The Umayyad Caliphate, which was based in Damascus, Syria, faced internal pressures and resistance, in part because they showed a clear preference for Arab Muslims, excluding non-Arab Muslims such as Persians. In 750 CE, Sunni Arab Abu al-Abbas took advantage of this weakness and launched a revolution. He overcame the Umayyad troops in a huge battle with the support of his followers, and established the Abbasid Dynasty in their place.

Baghdad History

Let us understand more about the baghdad history and the ancient baghdad here.

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Abbasid capital is baghdad and the baghdad location is along the Tigris. Baghdad, Iraq's ancient capital, was created by the Abbasid Dynasty's rulers. Ancient baghdad will eventually replace and surpass Damascus as the empire's capital. It was strategically located near the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, giving it a perfect location for baghdad location for food production to support a large population.

Before the Umayyads acquired power, the Abbasids rebuilt Baghdad from the ground up, keeping the Persians' network of roads and trade routes in place. Baghdad's location between Asia and Europe made it an important stop on overland trade routes between the two continents. Ivory, soap, honey, and diamonds were among the goods traded through Baghdad. Baghdad was known for producing and exporting silk, glass, tiles, and paper. The city's strategic location and vibrant trade culture allowed for a lively exchange of ideas as well.

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Baghdad attracted a large number of people, including scholars, to live inside its boundaries. Here's an excerpt from Arab historian and biographer Yakut al-description Hamawi's of Baghdad in the tenth century to get a flavour of what life was like in the newly formed city:

Baghdad was divided into two 12 semi-circles on the right and left sides of the Tigris. The different suburbs, which were covered with parks, gardens, villas, and lovely promenades on both sides of the river, and abundantly supplied with rich bazaars, well-built mosques, and baths, spread for a considerable distance on both sides of the river. Baghdad and its suburbs had a population of over two [million] in the days of its prosperity!

The Caliph's palace was located in the middle of a large park that extended for several hours which included a menagerie and an aviary, as well as an area for wild animals reserved for chase. The palace grounds were landscaped with gardens and extensively decorated with plants, flowers, and trees, as well as reservoirs and fountains, all surrounded by sculpted figures. The great nobles' palaces stood on this side of the river. Huge streets, some as broad as forty cubits, ran the length of the city, dividing it into blocks or quarters, each under the supervision of an overseer or supervisor who was responsible for the cleanliness, sanitation, and comfort of the inhabitants.

Pursuit of Knowledge

Harun al-Rashid, the Abbasid Caliph, and his son, al-Ma'mun, who succeeded him, founded a House of Wisdom in Baghdad, which served as a dedicated space for research. Between 813 and 833, al-reign Ma'mun's increased the use and prestige of the House of Wisdom. He went out of his way to bring famous scholars to the House of Wisdom. Muslims, Christians, and Jews all worked peacefully together there.

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The Translation Movement

Caliphs such as al-Rashid and al-Ma'mun actively encouraged the translation movement, which involved the formal translation of scholarly works from Greek to Arabic. The Abbasid rulers wanted to make Greek books available to the Arab world, such as Aristotle's works. Their goal was to translate possible number of these well-known books as they could in order to create a comprehensive library of knowledge and to preserve Greek philosophies and expertise. The Abbasids wanted philosophical, science, and medical texts to be translated. Syrian Christians, in addition to Arab Muslim scholars, translated Syriac texts into Arabic.

Did You Know?

During the Abbasid Caliphate, scholars in Baghdad contributed to the preservation of Greek and other existent knowledge in philosophy, astronomy, medicine, and a variety of other disciplines. These scholars not only conserved information, but they also provided new insights into their fields and finally passed their discoveries on to Europe.