BAGHDAD

Baghdad, the most glorious city built by the Muslims during the Islamic Empire, was not founded as a garrison town. In 762, the Abbasid caliph

Al-Mansur decided he needed a new capital for himself and his descendants.

During the Abbasid dynasty, Baghdad became the most important trading city in the empire. It has remained a vibrant and important place through the centuries. The Haydar Khana mosque in Baghdad was built in 1836.

Al-Mansur wanted the new city in Iraq to serve as a symbol of the Abba-sids’ political, commercial, and cultural superiority.

The new capital was built on the site of an ancient Persian village that had also been named Baghdad.

Mansur called his capital Madinat al-Salam, which means “City of Peace,” but people continued to call it by its old name.

Baghdad was located on the west bank of the Tigris River, 20 miles northeast of the former Persian capital,

Ctesiphon. The site was wisely chosen. Because of its location between the Tigris and the Euphrates Rivers, Baghdad was surrounded by fertile land. Additionally, the city could easily be defended. Enemy troops could attack only by ship or by crossing a heavily-guarded bridge into the city.

The most skilled builders and designers from around the empire were brought to Baghdad to work on the royal complex. About 100,000 men worked four years to complete the Abbasid city.

Baghdad originally was known as the Round City. It was built in a circular plan and measured nearly 2 miles across. The city was made up of three circles set inside one another, each one surrounded by a wall. The caliph’s palace and the mosque were built in the innermost circle. In the middle circle lived courtiers, army officers, and other important people. The third circle was occupied by the rest of the people.

The outermost wall was a strong one, with four gates leading to the four different points of the empire. Each gate was defended by a company of 1,000 soldiers. Merchants and businessmen set up their shops outside the outermost wall.

The city continued to grow and spread. By the early 800s, Baghdad was the largest city in the Middle East. At its height, more than 1 million people made their homes there. During the reign of Caliph Harun al-Rashid (r. 786-809), Baghdad expanded to the east side of the Tigris River, and this area soon became the heart of the city.

At its best, the city was the most cultured, beautiful, and busy metropolitan area in the world. It contained breathtaking mosques, palaces, and gardens. Like other cities throughout the empire, Baghdad was home to libraries, colleges, and hospitals. The busy boat traffic on the Tigris made it an avenue of trade. Gondolas (small, flat-bottomed boats) sailed up and down, filled with goods and people.

Because it was located in the heart of the former Sassanian Empire, Baghdad’s residents and visitors could not help but be influenced by Persian culture. As a result, a Persian influence began to spread throughout the empire.

In addition to the Persian influence, the city enjoyed a truly international atmosphere. As capital of the huge Islamic Empire, Baghdad attracted people from all over the world to study and do business. Scholars, poets, scientists, and other learned people came to visit and study at the libraries, mosques, and schools. Caliph Harun al-Rashid had a library with close to 600,000 books.

Baghdad continued to be one of the most cultured and beautiful cities in the world until 1258, when it was destroyed and looted by the Mongols. The destruction marked the end of the Islamic Empire.