Group
The dynasty that ruled the Muslim world from Baghdad from 750 to 1258.
What it means
The Abbasids came to power in 750 by overthrowing the Umayyads, with support from Abu Muslim al-Khurasani and many non-Arab Muslims, and built Baghdad as their capital. They ruled until the Mongols sacked Baghdad in 1258.
What the sources say
Their patronage of learning is among the best-known features of the age. Al-Khwarizmi, from whom “algorithm” takes its name, worked in the House of Wisdom in Baghdad, and the Christian physician Hunayn ibn Ishaq led a large translation of Greek medical and philosophical works into Arabic. This shows that Islam’s own sources were no barrier to learning, and in the Muslim reading encouraged it.