Tag Archives: Harun al-Rashid

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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