Skip to main content

Golden Age of Islam and the Abbasid Caliphate

The Golden Age of Islam is a period that spanned from the 7th to the 13th centuries and is associated with the establishment and rise of the Abbasid Caliphate. During this period, the Islamic world made great progress in the fields of science, culture, art, literature, philosophy and medicine. In this article, we will examine the beginning, characteristics and achievements of the Golden Age of Islam.

Establishment of the Abbasid Caliphate

The Abbasid Caliphate was founded by a dynasty descended from Abbas ibn Abdulmuttalib, uncle of the Prophet Muhammad. This dynasty took its name from this ancestor. The Abbasids came to power with the Abbasid Revolution, which overthrew the Umayyad Caliphate in 750. The origins and initial successes of the Abbasid Revolution took place in the east, in the Khorasan region, away from the Umayyad centres of power, Syria and Iraq.

The Abbasid Caliphate and their expansion map

The Abbasid Caliphate first established its government centre in the city of Kufa in Iraq. However, in 762, Caliph Al-Mansur founded the city of Baghdad, near Babylon, the ancient capital of Babylon, and the Persian city of Ctesiphon. Baghdad became the centre of science, culture and invention during the period known as the Golden Age of Islam.

Baghdad The Round City and Birthplace of The Golden Age
An Illustration of the Baghdad, at Abbasid Period
Apple HQ, which imitated Baghdad during a period

Science and Culture in Baghdad

After Baghdad was founded in 762, it attracted a large number of people, especially scholars, philosophers, doctors and other thinkers. These people came together in Baghdad and exchanged ideas, translated Greek texts into Arabic and made scientific discoveries. For this reason, this period is called the Golden Age of Islam.

The love of knowledge is clearly visible in Baghdad. The academic institution called the House of Wisdom (Bayt Al-Hikmah), established in Baghdad, functioned as both a library and a research centre. Scholars working at the House of Wisdom have translated many works from languages such as Greek, Syriac and Persian into Arabic. These works include the works of Ancient Greek philosophers and scientists such as Aristotle, Plato, Hippocrates, Galen and Pythagoras.

An Illustration of The Bayt Al-hikmah and The Scholars

Thanks to the translations made in the House of Wisdom, Arabic has become the language of science. Additionally, these translations inspired the Renaissance in Europe. Because scholars in Europe later rediscovered Ancient Greek thought by translating these translations into Latin.

At the House of Wisdom, not only translation was made. At the same time, new scientific studies have been conducted. For example, the famous mathematician Al-Khwarezmi (780-850), who lived in Baghdad, developed a new branch of mathematics called algebra. The word algebra comes from the work called Kitabu Al-Muhtasar fi Hisabi Al-Jabr wa Al-Muqabala, written by Al-Khwarezmi. Additionally, Al-Khwarizmi introduced Indo-Arabic numerals and zero. Al-Khwarizmi's name is the origin of the word Algorithm.

Al-Khwarezm, The Father of Algorithm

Another famous scientist living in Baghdad was the physician named Al-Razi (854-925). Al-Razi wrote many works in the field of medicine. The most important of these is a 20-volume medical encyclopedia called Al-Havi (Liber Continens). In this work, Al-Razi brought together his own experiences, the views of previous physicians such as Hippocrates and Galen, and Indian, Chinese and Greek medicine. Al-Razi was also the first physician to distinguish between smallpox and measles.

Al-Razi

There were important names in astronomy such as Battani, who criticized Ptolemy's works and developed observation methods, Biruni, who developed the astrolabe, and Nasiruddin Tusi, who calculated the movements of the planets. In medicine, Zahrawi designed surgical instruments and developed surgical techniques. Ibnu Sina wrote his work called Kanun fi At-Tib, which is considered the authority of medicine. In chemistry, Jabir bin Khayyam defined chemical elements and conducted laboratory experiments. In physics, Khayyam worked on optics and explained the refraction of light. In philosophy, philosophers such as Farabi, Ibn Rushd and Ghazali tried to create a synthesis between Greek philosophy and Islamic thought. In literature, they wrote Firdausi Shahname, Nizami Khamsa, Sadi Bostan and Gülistan. In art, branches of art such as miniature, calligraphy, illumination and carpet weaving developed. In terms of architecture, structures such as mosques, madrasahs, caravanserais and palaces were built.

Islam Scholars and Bayt Al-Hikmah

Studies in the field of science and culture in Baghdad are not limited to these examples. Significant contributions were made in Baghdad in many fields such as astronomy, physics, chemistry, geography, history, literature and philosophy. These contributions had a great impact on the development of both the Islamic world and humanity.

The Fall of Baghdad and the Golden Age of Islam

The end of the Golden Age of Islam is generally accepted as 1258 when the Mongols occupied Baghdad and destroyed the Abbasid caliphate. The Mongols sacked the city, killed the Caliph, and massacred much of the city's population. The city was largely devastated. This siege also caused the destruction of a large part of the scientific and cultural heritage of the Islamic world. The books in the library of the House of Wisdom were thrown into the Tigris River, and the water of the river turned black with ink. This event is seen as the beginning of a period of decline in the Islamic world.

The Siege of Baghdad (1258)
Illustration of the Fall of Baghdad in 1258

The Golden Age of Islam is one of the brightest periods of Islamic civilization. During this period, the Islamic world made many contributions in the fields of science and culture and contributed to the progress of humanity. The end of this period was a great loss for both the Islamic world and humanity. Recognizing and remembering this period is important for the future of both the Islamic world and humanity.

Resources:

: https://www.bbc.co.uk/teach/class-clips-video/baghdad-in-900ad-the-golden-age-of-islam/zjfxpg8

: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamic_Golden_Age

: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Baghdad

: https://themuslimtimes.info/2023/06/11/the-end-of-the-islamic-golden-age/

: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_Baghdad_%281258%29

[1] https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/world-history/medieval-times/cross-cultural-diffusion-of-knowledge/a/the-golden-age-of-islam

[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abbasid_Caliphate

[3] https://www.thoughtco.com/what-was-the-abbasid-caliphate-195293

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

History of The Abbasid Caliphate and The Golden Age of Islam

Illustration of the round city of Baghdad Abbasid Caliphate The Abbasid Caliphate was the third caliphate to succeed the Islamic prophet Muhammad. A dynasty founded it descended from Muhammad's uncle, Abbas ibn Abd al-Muttalib. The Abbasid Caliphate first centred its government in Kufa, modern-day Iraq, but in 762 the caliph Al-Mansur founded the city of Baghdad. The Abbasid period was marked by dependence on Persian bureaucrats for governing the territories as well as an increasing inclusion of non-Arab Muslims in the ummah (Muslim community). The Abbasid Caliphate overthrew the Umayyad caliphate in 750 CE and reigned until it was destroyed by the Mongol invasion in 1258. Illustration of The Abbasid Caliphate Illustration of the map of the Abbasid Caliphate.  The Abbasid caliphate was one of the largest and most influential Islamic states in history. It spanned from North Africa to Central Asia and reached its peak of expansion in the 9th and 10th centuries CE. Golden Age of Islam
Post a Comment
Read more

History of The Mighty Mongol Empire

The Mongol Empire, founded by Genghis Khan in 1206, was the largest contiguous land empire in history. It extended from the Pacific Ocean to the Danube River and the Persian Gulf, covering some 9 million square miles of territory. Rise of the Mongol Empire The empire emerged from the unification of several nomadic tribes in the Mongol heartland under the leadership of Temüjin, who is more famously known as Genghis Khan. The empire grew rapidly under his rule and that of his descendants, who sent out invading armies in every direction. Ilustration of Genghis Khan The vast transcontinental empire connected the East with the West, and the Pacific to the Mediterranean, in an enforced Pax Mongolica, allowing the exchange of trade, technologies, commodities, and ideologies across Eurasia. The map of the Mongol Empire at their greatest extent Fall of the Mongol Empire However, the empire began to split due to wars over succession, as the grandchildren of Genghis Khan disputed whether the roya
Post a Comment
Read more

When Peace and Mercy Conquered The Holy City of Jerusalem (Al-Quds)

Saladin, or Salahaddin, was the Sultan of Egypt and Syria who united the Muslim world under his rule and fought against the Crusaders in the 12th century CE. He is best known for his conquest of Jerusalem in 1187 CE, which ended almost nine decades of Christian rule over the holy city. In this blog post, we will explore how Saladin achieved this remarkable feat, how he showed his mercy and generosity to the defeated Christians, and what legacy he left for world history. The Rise of Saladin Saladin was born Yusuf Ibn Ayyub in the central Iraqi city of Tikrit in 1137 or 1138. His family was of Kurdish descent, and his father Ayyub and uncle Shirkuh were elite military leaders under the Zengid dynasty of Syria. He rose to prominence as a military commander under Nur al-Din, the Zengid ruler who fought against the Crusader states established by the First Crusade (1095-1099 CE). Saladin became the vizier of Egypt in 1169 CE, after overthrowing the Fatimid caliphate that ruled there. He then
Post a Comment
Read more