History
This Islamic caliphate founded Baghdad in 762 CE, transforming it into a major cultural, political, and scholarly center.
What is the Abbasid Caliphate?
Baghdad is located along this major river, one of two that define the region of Mesopotamia.
What is the Tigris River?
This institution, established in Baghdad, became one of the most important centers for translating Greek, Persian, and Indian texts.
What is the House of Wisdom?
Baghdad's strategic location along this major river helped it become a major hub for international trade.
What is the Tigris River?
The layout of Baghdad was based on this geometric shape, with a central mosque and caliph's palace at the core.
What is a circle?
What is Damascus?
Baghdad was designed as a "round city" with the caliph's palace and mosque located at this point.
The Abbasid caliphs promoted this language as the official language of scholarship, administration, and science in Baghdad.
What is Arabic?
This lightweight, durable material, invented by the Chinese and brought to Baghdad via the Silk Road, became a vital export after the Abbasids established mills in the city.
What is paper?
Abbasid architecture drew heavily from styles of this earlier Persian empire, known for its use of large arches and domes.
What is the Sassanian Empire?
This caliph, known for his association with the stories of One Thousand and One Nights, ruled from 786 CE to 809 CE and oversaw Baghdad's golden age.
Who is Harun al-Rashid?
This term refers to the larger fertile region of which Baghdad is a part, often called "Cradle of Civilization."
What is Mesopotamia?
This famous Persian scholar, known for his works on medicine and philosophy, was one of the most influential figures associated with the House of Wisdom.
Who is Al-Razi?
Baghdad's marketplaces, also known as these, were centers of trade where merchants exchanged luxury goods, textiles, and spices.
What are souks or bazaars?
The main mosque in the center of Baghdad was known for its large dome and this type of tall tower, from which the call to prayer was made.
What is a minaret?
This internal rebellion, led by East African slaves known as Zanj, posed a significant threat to Abbasid rule and required several years of military campaigns to suppress.
What is the Zanj Rebellion?
Baghdad's circular design was meant to serve as a defensive structure. It was surrounded by how many defensive walls?
What are two?
Music and poetry flourished in Baghdad, and one of the most famous poets of the Abbasid era was this woman, known for her lyrical poems on love and loss.
Who is Wallada bint al-Mustakfi?
One of Baghdad's major imports was this spice, highly prized for its flavor and medicinal uses, which was sourced from Southeast Asia.
What is cinnamon?
The materials most commonly used to build Baghdad's structures included this common, sun-dried material made from clay and straw.
What is mudbrick?
This 10th-century scholar from Baghdad authored The Book of the Categories of Nations, a key work on the history of science and the contributions of different civilizations.
Who is Sa'id al-Andalusi?
The design of Baghdad was inspired by this earlier Persian Sassanian city, known for its own circular structure.
What is Gur (Ardashir-Khurra)?
This 10th-century philosopher, known as "The Second Teacher" (after Aristotle), worked in Baghdad, where he wrote influential treatises on political philosophy and metaphysics.
Who is Al-Farabi?
This rare, fragrant wood from Southeast Asia, often used in incense and perfumes, was a prized luxury import in Abbasid Baghdad.
What is agarwood (or oud)?
This architectural technique, perfected during the Abbasid period, uses interlocking, glazed ceramic pieces to form intricate geometric patterns on walls and floors.
What is zellij (or mosaic tilework)?