Tag Archives: Baghdad

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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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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The Child Prodigy Imam, 811-835

Posted on March 28, 2022 by Ruth

When Imam Reza died while traveling with Caliph al-Mamun from Merv to Baghdad, it was unclear to some Shi’ites who was his successor. He had one son, and only one, who had been born when he was well over 40. … Continue reading →

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Downfall of a Family: Who was Jafar? 803

Posted on December 16, 2021 by Ruth

The Barmakids were the wealthiest, most important family during early Abbasid years. “Barmak” may have been a hereditary title for the guardians of a Buddhist shrine in Balkh. The family converted to Islam very early and became part of the … Continue reading →

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Early Abbasid Queens, 754-809

Posted on December 14, 2021 by Ruth

The early Abbasid period was a time of unimaginable wealth. The empire was at its fullest extent, although tax and tribute from al-Andalus had dried up with going independent under Abd al-Rahman the Umayyad. Still, gold and jewels rolled in … Continue reading →

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Shi’ites: Imam Kazim, 745-799

Posted on December 13, 2021 by Ruth

Let’s review the Shi’ite Imam line that’s going on outside the spotlight, all this time. Ali is counted as the first Imam, since he claimed that title when he became Caliph—saying that “Caliph” had become corrupt, so he would be … Continue reading →

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Baghdad of Legend: the Arabian Nights

Posted on December 3, 2021 by Ruth

At the Round City’s House of Wisdom, the first work was to collect and translate the Persian books sitting in local libraries. We don’t know at what point they began to translate the Persian storybook that became the most successful … Continue reading →

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Baghdad: the House of Wisdom

Posted on December 3, 2021 by Ruth

Baghdad’s Round City featured a large building that was called, at first, The Bookstore. It was modeled after the Persian Empire’s library in Ctesiphon, but its chief purpose was to transfer civilization into the Arabic script of the recently-literate nomads. … Continue reading →

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Back to Baghdad: Writing Arabic

Posted on December 3, 2021 by Ruth

During the Abbasid Caliphate’s Golden Age, the Arabic script was reformed. The Abbasids moved their capital from Damascus, a Semitic (Aramaic) language center, to Baghdad in Persia. Arabic became a second language for most of its speakers in Baghdad, people … Continue reading →

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Building Baghdad, 762

Posted on December 2, 2021 by Ruth

The city was designed to be a visual representation of the Koran’s idea of Paradise. By the time it was founded, the Empire was at its peak size and vast sums of tribute flowed into the Caliph’s coffers, so money … Continue reading →

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