1. Rise of Abbasid Caliphate
747CE major Shi’ite revolt in northeastern Iran
Caused by growing unrest among non-Arab Muslims
Demanded more access to political power.
Many felt the Syrian Arabs had gained too much power
They called themselves the Abbasid after Muhammad’s uncle (al- Abbas)
Gained support of Shi’ite & Mawali
Both had been treated like 2nd Class Citizens

2. Rise of Abbasid Caliphate
Abbasids won a major battle of River Zab.
Abdallah invited the Umayyad family to a banquet
Had the Umayyads murdered during dinner
Those Umayyads not at the dinner were hunted down and killed (except 1!)

3. The Abbasid Caliphate (750-1258*CE)
Moved the Capital to Baghdad
Fertile Area + Central to trade Routes
Allow for more external (non-Arab) influence
Though Arab still official language.
The Abbasid Dynasty & Islam flourished due to trade:
Central Market For All Goods!
The introduction of credit
Free traders from carrying coins & being robbed
A system of receipts and bills for goods
Allowed merchants to control inventory and account for the sale of goods

4. Trade & Islam
Indonesia is most populous Muslim country in the world. Followed by India, Pakistan, etc. Only 20% of Muslims live in Middle East!
After the 8th Century (700s) Trade spread Islam more than conquest
People learned about Islam and converted

5. The Abbasid Caliphate
Considered the “Golden Age” of classic Islamic culture
Art & Architecture, Literature, Science, & Medicine
Wealth from trade allowed for free time to think, and advance

6. Abbasid Women Similar to Umayyad:
Permitted to initiate divorce and also receive a cash payment if finalized
Permitted to practice birth control
Permitted to own property and testify in court
Testimony only worth ½
Allowed inheritance (1/2 of son’s)
Had to wear a veil. (Umayyads made it optional)
Still a misogynistic (male dominated) society

7. Abbasid Achievements Islam Preserves the West
Muslim & Abbasid Dynasty preserves Greco/Roman culture
The Arabs did not dismiss the past cultures of the world as Europeans of the time did
Instead they studied, & translated classical writings into Arabic:
Plato, Aristotle, etc (Philosophy & Science)
Classification of Plants, etc
Many ancient writings were translated and preserved in Muslim libraries
Without the Muslims saving these works many would have been lost forever

8. Islamic version of Aristotle teaching

9. Abbasid Achievements Created first Universities in the World:
Al Azhar University was the first university in the East, and perhaps the oldest in history (800s) Pictured Here =>
Universities translated Greek Classics into books (on Paper they stole from China!)

10. Abbasid Achievements Jābir ibn Hayyān Al Khwarizmi Developed Algebra
Beginnings of Alchemy = Chemistry
Classify Metals based on properties
What happens when heated?
Malleable?
Powder?
Al Khwarizmi Developed Algebra
Book “al jabr” meaning adding things
Proof of linear and quadratic equations by balancing

11. Abbasid Achievements Medicine: Ibn Sina Mohammad al-Razi
Wrote “Canon of Medicine” with detailed descriptions of all medical knowledge of the time
Mohammad al-Razi
Diagnosed Measles & Smallpox
publishes medical encyclopedias unheard of in the world at this time
Criticized Galen = 4 Humors

12. Astrolabe Improved by Muḥammad ibn Ibrāhīm al-Fazārī,
The Astrolabe could read latitude, the position of the planets and stars (use for horoscope)
Will become the primary navigational tool of sailors around the world by 1492.

13. Abbasid Decline: 850 – 1050CE Shiite & Sunni Civil Wars
Abbasids turned their backs on Shiites that had helped capture the Empire
Size of empire hard to hold together.
Caravan speed only 20 miles per day.
News of revolts on the frontier took 2 weeks to reach Baghdad.

14. Abbasid Decline Taxes hard to collect in Large Empire
Local strongmen begin to seize power and profits creating large provincial caliphates.
Some groups thought the Abbasids had become corrupt
Broke away from the Empire (Fatimids)
Weakened Empire open to outside attack (Samanids)

15. Division of Abbasid Caliphate
Buyids, then Seljuks, made the Abbasids vassals from 945 – 1118 CE
Abbasids kept religious and administrative power in Baghdad.
Dynasty had a resurgence after 1118 CE
Abbasids finally erased by Mongols (1258 CE)