Abbasid+Caliphate+Rise

By: Ashley Kim __Climate & Geographic Factors__ __ Events & Leaders __ *Click here for full caliph timeline  __Socio-Political Structure__
 * New Abbasid capital - Baghdad
 * Rivers Tirgris and Euphrates accessible through canals
 * Entry into Baghdad through river - way in for traders
 * Approachable by boat only - difficult for enemies
 * Warm climate
 * 717-720 - Great-grandson of al-Abbas began rebellion to replace caliph of Ummayad, Umar II, with Abbasid prophet
 * 744-750 - Rebellion continued by Ibrahim the Imam under reign of new caliph of Ummayad, Marwan II
 * 750 - Battle of The Great Zab: Abu al-Abbas al-Saffah and soldiers from tribe defeated caliph Marwan II and many Umayyads
 * 750 - Islamic Empire: Ummayad Caliphate to Abbasid Caliphate
 * First caliph (Baghdad): Abu'al Abbas al-Saffah
 * Created group of agents and propagandists - cultured people disloyal to Abbasids
 * <span style="font-size: 110%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif;">^ Abu Mulim - famous agent; declared revolt against Ummayads
 * <span style="font-size: 110%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif;">751 - Won Battle of Talas in central Asia against Chinese
 * <span style="font-size: 110%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif;">755 - Abu Muslim killed by Abu al-Abbas al-Saffah; afraid of Abu Muslim's power
 * <span style="font-size: 110%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif;">762 - Damascus to Baghdad; new Abbasid capital
 * <span style="font-size: 110%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif;">786-809 - Caliph Harun Al-Rashid: controlled collection of agriculteral taxes
 * <span style="font-size: 110%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif;">833-842 - Caliph al'Mu'tasim created slave army: Central Asian Turks trained since youth, serve him only
 * <span style="font-size: 110%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif;">Caliph had ultimate power - believed they were chosen by God
 * <span style="font-size: 110%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif;">Position of caliph passed down to offspring
 * <span style="font-size: 110%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif;">Grand Vizier - controlled civil matters, able to take away/over governer property
 * <span style="font-size: 110%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif;">Caliph secluded himself from his people
 * <span style="font-size: 110%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif;">^Empire so large - impossible to have complete control
 * <span style="font-size: 110%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif;">Head of police/head of royal bodyguards - powerful, high official
 * <span style="font-size: 110%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif;">Postal service - used by governement officials [[image:greatcaliphs.jpg width="261" height="294" align="right" caption="Battle" link="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_KM4BaB8DTMk/Sdx_JOK58GI/AAAAAAAAA7c/fQcHBMPzUBA/s400/great+caliphs,+bennison.jpg"]]
 * <span style="font-size: 110%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif;">^ Postal director also chief of empire spy system

__<span style="font-size: 160%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif;">Transportation & Weaponry __ <span style="font-size: 110%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif;"> __<span style="font-size: 150%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif;"> Art, Literature & Music __ <span style="font-size: 110%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif;"> <span style="font-size: 120%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif;"><span style="font-size: 140%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif;">
 * <span style="font-size: 110%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif;">Daggers, broadswords, long pikes etc.
 * <span style="font-size: 110%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif;">Soldiers paid - 125 000 men in army
 * <span style="font-size: 110%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif;">Armed with swords, spears, shields
 * <span style="font-size: 110%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif;">Also archers, cavalrymen, engineers
 * <span style="font-size: 110%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif;">Travelled by horse, boat
 * <span style="font-size: 110%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif;">751 - Chinese papermakers captured - manuscript production increase in Islam
 * <span style="font-size: 110%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif;">Malik ibn Anas - wrote 'al-Muwatta' (The Beaten Path); first book of law
 * <span style="font-size: 110%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif;">Muhammad ibn Sa'd - biographies; 4000 entries, 600 women
 * <span style="font-size: 110%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif;">Abbasids preserved ancient Greek remains [[image:medislam.jpg width="332" height="240" align="right" caption="art, literature & music"]]
 * <span style="font-size: 110%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif;">Harun al-Rashid built palace, Baghdad - filled with artists, scholars, poets, musicians
 * <span style="font-size: 110%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif;">Poetry and music fundamental to high culture of court
 * <span style="font-size: 110%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif;">Ibn Khuradadhbih - geographer; 'Book of Routes and Kingdoms'

__<span style="font-size: 160%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif;">Science & Mathematical Contributions   __ <span style="font-size: 130%; color: #ff7d00; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif;">
 * <span style="font-size: 110%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif;">Greek scientific/philosophic work translated into Arabic
 * <span style="font-size: 110%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif;">Abbasid Court - learning and science
 * <span style="font-size: 110%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif;">Muhammad al-Khwarizmi - mathematician; discussed Arabic numerals in writings
 * <span style="font-size: 110%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif;">Banu Musa - 'Kitab al-hiyal' book of mechanics
 * <span style="font-size: 110%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif;">Muhammad al-Razi - philosopher and physician; diagnosed smallpox and measles, knowledge about birth control
 * <span style="font-size: 110%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif;">Muhammad al-Battani - mathematician; planetary movements

<span style="font-size: 130%; color: #ff6200; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif;">Bibliography | Essay