750-54 Reign of al-Saffah

754-75 Reign of al-Mansur

762 Start of construction of Baghdad

Abu Nuwas (poet, d. c. 813)

Harun al-Rashid (caliph, 786-809)

Sibawayh (grammarian, d. c. 793)

Ibn Ishaq (biographer, d. 767)

al-Jahiz (prose essayist, d. 869)

al-Tabari (historian, d. 923)

Map Link: ‘Abbasid Caliphate, c. 800:

<http://www.zum.de/whkmla/histatlas/arabworld/abbasidhist1.gif>

802 Harun al-Rashid splitsinheritance

809-13 Reign of al-Amin

811-13 Civil war

813-33 Reign of al-Ma’mun

833-42 Reign of al-Mu‘tasim

836 Al-Mu‘tasim moves capital to Samarra

Khurasan

mamluks(“ownedones”) i.e.slave-soldiers

861 Al-Mutawakkil killed by Turkish soldiers

869-83 Revolt of the zanj in southern Iraq

892 Al-Mu‘tadid (r. 892-902) movescapital back to Baghdad

936 Al-Radi (r. 934-40) hands power overto deputy Ibn Ra’iq

Map Link: Regional Dynasties, 9th, 10th Century:

<http://www.zum.de/whkmla/histatlas/arabworld/abbasidhist1.gif>

932 ‘Ali ibn Buya takes Fars, makes capitalat Shiraz

945 Ahmad ibn Buya takes Baghdad,becomes caliphal deputy (amir al-umara’)of al-Mustakfi (r. 944-46)

946 Al-Hasan ibn Buya takes much of Persia

991-1031 Reign of caliph al-Qadir, who triedto codify Sunni ritual and doctrine

Abu Yusuf (d. 798)

Abu Yusuf Ya‘qub ibn Ibrahim al-Ansarial-Kufi

Arab descent. Studied religious law andtraditions under Abu Hanifa (d. 767)and Malik ibn Anas (d. 795)

Became qadi in Baghdad. Favoured by Harunal-Rashid (r. 786-809), who awardedhim title qadi al-qudat

Abu Yusuf (d. 798)

Wrote various works, incl. Kitab al-Kharaj(book on taxation, public finance,justice etc.), written at request ofHarun al-Rashid

Al-Mawardi (b. Basra 974, d. Baghdad 1058)

Abu’l-Hasan ‘Ali ibn Muhammad ibn Habibal-Mawardi

Shafi‘ite jurisprudent and teacher. Aftercompleted education, became famousand served as qadi in various places,incl. eventually in Baghdad. In 1058,awarded title qadi al-qudat. Alsoserved as diplomat for the caliphs.

Al-Mawardi (b. Basra 974, d. Baghdad 1058)

Wrote a wide range of works. Best knownfor Kitab al-Ahkam al-Sultaniyya (bookon government)

Al-Farabi (d. Damascus 950)

Abu Nasr Muhammad ibn Muhammad ibnTarkhan ibn Awzalagh

Very famous Muslim philosopher, but littleknown of life. Of Turkish origin. Livedquiet life until invited in 942 by Sayfal-Dawla, ruler of Aleppo, to his court.Lived there until just before death.

Al-Farabi (d. Damascus 950)

Learned philosophy from a NestorianChristian of Greek school.

Credited with over 100 works, incl. Fi Mabadi’Ara’ Ahl al-Madina al-Fadila (book onperfect state, presenting Islamic versionof Plato’s Republic)