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Essay Arabia has always been controlled by the Arabs, from the time of the vast Roman Empire through two thousand years and two world wars to today. Their pursuit of science was unparalleled which brought great advances to the field. The Abbasids were uncompromising leaders and tenacious in their quest for dominance and power. However, their presence and availability to their subjects was absent which led to their demise. The Abbasid dynasty was a fascinating paradox that present day leaders can learn from.

Throughout Islamic history, there have been many great thinkers and philosophers. The Abbasids believed in the advancement of the sciences, including mathematics and astronomy and also the advancement of thinking and new ideas with learning and exploring philosophy. Al Mamun, the Caliph from 830 – 833 was an immense supporter of the Arts and Sciences. Under his rule, Baghdad became an unrivaled center of science. He created the House of Wisdom, which was open to new ideas and encouraged the thinkers of this time to consider many ideas and thoughts. Under his rule, Islam and Baghdad flourished and became more powerful because great thinkers flocked to Baghdad knowing they would be accepted and not chastised. Modern leaders can learn from this by encouraging openness and discussion between different fields and ideals which would ultimately result in tolerance, openness, acceptance and perhaps even cures.

When the Abbasids took over rule, they eliminated all of their opponents, save one who escaped and fled to safety on a different continent. Their power was absolute and their quest in spreading their empire was determined. Their belief that their way of life was the true way fueled their desire to spread the word of Islam. World leaders today can learn from their tenacity and relentlessness in their pursuit. The Abbasids truly believed in their way of life. Leaders cannot be effective if they are unsure or waver from one day to the next. Like the Abbasid Caliphs, world leaders must firmly believe in their goals and see them through in order to be effective and admirable. However, because we are now civilized, it is not necessary to use force or violence to achieve ones goals. I don’t think it is necessary to behead opponents and feast upon their dead bodies in these modern times.

One of the errors the Abbasids made was to lionize themselves. They believed they were appointed by god and therefore removed themselves from the public eye and public scrutiny. They appointed ministers who, over the years, became too powerful and too able to control and manipulate information and policy. As time went on the Caliphs withdrew themselves and only had a peripheral control on the politics of the era. Because of the reclusiveness, their subjects began to mistrust them and their leadership abilities. Modern leaders need to be available to the people of their countries in order to establish trust and faith in their leadership abilities. People tend to not like leaders who are reclusive and self – declared demi-gods.

Overall we could learn from the Abbasid empire. We could learn that science and religion can co-exist or that we should set goals and see them through more and continue on them until we reach them. Our political leaders should not isolate themselves from there people and not be too absorbed with themselves. Therefore everyone loves medieval Islam.

Note on the Fall