Abbasid

Abbasid refers to the Abbasid Caliphate, the major Islamic empire that succeeded the Umayyad dynasty. Founded by Abu al-Abbas in the aftermath of the Abbasid revolution, it began in 750 CE and traced its name to Abbas ibn Abd al-Muttalib, an uncle of the Prophet Muhammad. The Abbasids established a new capital at Baghdad, which flourished as a political and intellectual center.

The empire expanded into a vast realm that stretched from North Africa to Central Asia. The 8th–9th centuries marked the Abbasid Golden Age, characterized by scientific, medical, mathematical, and philosophical advances, and by a cosmopolitan culture. The House of Wisdom in Baghdad symbolized scholarly activity, translating Greek, Persian, and Indian works and fostering original contributions.

Administration combined Arab governance with Persian bureaucratic practices. Diwan systems, taxation, and provincial governance were supported by a corps of slave soldiers, known as ghilman, and a growing cadre of bureaucrats and viziers. The dynasty supported religious and intellectual debates, including the Mihna on the nature of the Qur'an under al-Ma'mun.

From the 9th century onward, central authority waned, with power shifting to autonomous rulers and regional dynasties such as the Tulunids, Ikhshidids, and Buyids. Baghdad's political influence declined, and attempts to reassert control were sporadic. In 1258, the Mongols captured Baghdad, effectively ending the Abbasid caliphate in Iraq. A descendant line continued as symbolic caliphs in Cairo from 1261 until 1517.