THE GOOD OLD DAYS OF ABBASID CALIPHATE
Long time ago, there was a powerful Muslim dynasty named Abbasid founded in Kufa in modern-day Iraq. Abbasid is believed to have been founded by the lineage of Abbas ibn Abd al-Muttalib (566–653 CE), the Islamic prophet Muhammad’s youngest uncle.
The Abbasid dynasty was the third Muslim arab dynasty after successfully overthrown the Umayyad dynasty after years of civil war, which ended with power transition.
The Abbasid Kingdom was believed to be ruled by Caliphs; the position was meant to be headed by the most righteous Islamic persons as the supreme leader, regardless of any race or ethnicity and whom people give allegiance to!
Abbasid, just as its predecessor, Umayyad, the system of caliphate was merely a name NOT in effect instead was a hereditary caliphate ruled by the male members of the Abbasid lineage.
During the early days of the Abbasid dynasty, the kingdom moved its capital from Kufa to Baghdad, which saw drastic prosperity. Though the Abbasid dynasty inherited most of Umayyad domains, which stretched from Persia to the Indian subcontinent down to Mepotomumia and down to the Arab Gulf and then to North to East Africa EXCEPT Andalusia (Muslim Spain), which Umayyads still held untill 15th century.
Among its riches were the best educational institutions, which attracted many people around the world of that era to Baghdad; innovations both in science and technology; in fact, during the Abbasid era, Muslims discovered algebra, optic, astronomy, alchemists, water clock, aviation, paper mill, glass and crystals, water pump, windmill and many more innovations; the successful restablishment of trade with the west and far east Asians, and the clearing off the path of the Silk Road was crucial, which made the kingdom, at some point in time, an economic powerhouse.
There was The House of Wisdom (the Grand Library of Baghdad), containing countless precious historical documents and books, centered in Baghdad.
Muslims, Christians, Jews, and other religion minorities such as Zorostanists, Hindus, Jainists, and Buddhists all lived together peacefully, all contributing to the greatest of the kingdom.
In one episode, the west Holy Roman Emperor Charlemagne praised Abbasid Caliph Harun al-Rashid, as the nation of the pious. Both monarchs even exchange gifts, the most famous gift was gift of Elephant which Charlemagne gifted Harun al-Rashid with an elephant!
The Muslim dynasty of Abbasid enjoyed long good days. However, much of it gradually lost as the dynasty encountered subsequent problems in its later years! The next episode i narrate how Abbasid rule ended.
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