Abbasid Caliphate and Fragmentation

A comprehensive set of vocabulary flashcards covering key concepts, figures, and events related to the Abbasid Caliphate and its history.

Abbasid Caliphate

A major Islamic caliphate that ruled from 750-1258 CE, known for its cultural and scientific achievements.

Umayyad dynasty

The first great Muslim dynasty to rule the empire of the Caliphate from 661 to 750 CE, known for its expansion.

Al-Manṣūr

The second Abbasid caliph, known for his role in consolidating Abbasid power and establishing Baghdad as the capital.

Khorasan

A historical region that was pivotal in the rise of the Abbasid Caliphate, where opposition against the Umayyads originated.

Fatimid Caliphate

An Isma'ili Shia caliphate that ruled in North Africa and parts of the Middle East from 909 to 1171 CE.

Baghdad

The capital city of the Abbasid Caliphate, founded in 762 CE and known for its cultural and intellectual advancement.

Al-Saffāḥ

The first Abbasid caliph, known for his extreme generosity and ruthlessness in eliminating Umayyad loyalists.

Civil War (Abbasid Period)

Conflict arising from Al-Rashid’s decision to divide power among his sons, leading to political instability.

Golden Age of Islam

A period during which Islamic culture, science, and philosophy flourished, especially under the Abbasid Caliphate.

Buyid Empire

A Shia dynasty that ruled parts of Iran and Iraq during the 10th and 11th centuries, significantly influencing the Abbasid political structure.

Cairo

The capital of Egypt, founded by the Fatimids, which became a new cultural center to rival Baghdad.

Al-Rashīd

An influential Abbasid caliph known for his relations with Europe and significant cultural contributions.

Zanj Revolt

A major slave revolt against the Abbasid Caliphate in the 9th century, led by Ali ibn Muhammad.

Samanids

A Persian dynasty that ruled parts of Central Asia during the rise of the Abbasid Caliphate.

Mongol Conquest of Baghdad

The event in 1258 CE that marked the end of the Abbasid Caliphate when Baghdad was sacked by Hulagu Khan.

Persian Influence

Cultural influences that increased in the Abbasid Caliphate following the move of the capital from Damascus to Baghdad.

Kufa

An important early Islamic city and center of learning during the Abbasid period.

Al-Azhar University

An educational institution founded in Cairo, becoming a major center for Islamic scholarship under the Fatimids.

Historic Fragmentation

The process in which the political unity of the Islamic Empire started to weaken, leading to the rise of independent states.

Peasant Revolts

Rebellions by local populations against the caliphate's authority, particularly during the second Abbasid period.

Al-Ma'mūn

The seventh Abbasid caliph, known for his patronage of the sciences and culture, and his conflicts with the Alids.