Monthly Archives: April 2022

Ahmad ibn Tulun in Egypt, 868-905

Posted on April 14, 2022 by Ruth

Among the Turkish slave officers in Baghdad and Samarra was a Uyghur named Tulun, whose son Ahmad received a good Islamic education and became a protégé of one of the top Turkish generals. Of course he joined the army, where … Continue reading →

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9th Century Astronomy

Posted on April 14, 2022 by Ruth

There was always a very strong link between mathematics and astronomy in the ancient world. In Baghdad’s scholarly library, they collected astronomical calculations and theories from Greek literature (bought from Constantinople) that was based on earlier Babylonian work. They also … Continue reading →

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Arabic Numerals in the 9th Century

Posted on April 14, 2022 by Ruth

Our digital numeral system came first from India, but spent a long time as the dominant system in the Arabic kingdoms before entering Latin and Europe. The numbers are Arabic by adoption, Indian by birth. The Jain sect in India … Continue reading →

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The Book of Ingenious Devices, 850

Posted on April 14, 2022 by Ruth

Baghdad’s House of Wisdom produced a collection of all of the mechanical engineering devices known at that time. These devices were collected from China, India, Persia and Greece. We aren’t sure if the pictures in “The Book of Tricks” (or … Continue reading →

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The Last Shi’ite Imams, 868-74

Posted on April 12, 2022 by Ruth

The tenth Imam, al-Hadi, lived through six Abbasid Caliphs. He moved with his young family to Samarra, where his sons grew up. They lived in a heavily military neighborhood, not by their choice, but this location gave his son the … Continue reading →

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Anarchy and the Siege of Baghdad, 861-870

Posted on April 12, 2022 by Ruth

The sons of the Turkish cabal who had held power under Mu’tasim were now back in power and planned to remain so. They needed a frontman to be the Caliph, but the individuals they chose didn’t live long. There were … Continue reading →

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Caliph Mutawwakil Reverses Course, 847-61

Posted on April 12, 2022 by Ruth

Prince Ja’far, the 26-year-old brother of the Caliph who had just died, was chosen by the inner circle of the late Caliph’s advisors. They chose a regnal name for him: al-Mutawwakil ala-llah, the Reliant on God. History knows him as … Continue reading →

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Caliph Mamoun’s Heir: Caliph Mu’tasim, 833-42

Posted on April 11, 2022 by Ruth

Caliph Mamoun died pretty suddenly after a pleasant summer day of sitting on a river bank with his brother, chatting and eating some dates. All of a sudden, he had a fever. Other got sick too, but the Caliph died … Continue reading →

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