8th century – 13th century
Iraq, Egypt, Syria, Arabia, Iran, Central Asia and parts of North Africa
The Abbasid Caliphate replaced the Umayyads through a revolution supported largely by non-Arab Muslims seeking equality within the Islamic community. The Abbasids founded Baghdad as their capital in 762 and reoriented the regime around Islam rather than Arab privilege. Their realm initially expanded, but provincial autonomy, dissident movements, and rival dynasties progressively fragmented Abbasid authority, leaving the caliphs politically dependent on stronger powers.
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The Story
The Abbasid Revolution ended what the narrative calls the “Arab kingdom” of the Umayyad period. Its success depended on dissatisfied groups, especially non-Arab Muslims who demanded a fuller share in a community founded on equality among believers. The new dynasty therefore presented Islam, rather than Arab identity, as the principal basis of political legitimacy.
A decisive symbolic and geographical transformation came in 762, when the Abbasids transferred the capital from Syria to Iraq and founded Baghdad. The move shifted the empire’s centre of gravity toward the eastern provinces and accompanied a stronger official emphasis on orthodox Islam. During the first century of Abbasid rule, the caliphate continued to expand, including the annexation of Caspian provinces and the beginning of the Aghlabid conquest of Sicily.
The Abbasid realm was smaller than the former Umayyad empire because Muslim Spain remained outside it. During the first fifty years, the dynasty also lost control of African provinces west of Egypt to Kharijites and the Idrisids, while the governor of Ifriqiya, al-Aghlab, became virtually independent in 800. Later, dissident movements and provincial dynasties accelerated fragmentation: the Buyids controlled Iraq and made the Abbasid caliphs their political puppets, while the Fatimids detached Egypt, Syria, and Arabia.
8th century – 13th century
Iraq, Egypt, Syria, Arabia, Iran, Central Asia and parts of North Africa
The Abbasid Caliphate replaced the Umayyads through a revolution supported largely by non-Arab Muslims seeking equality within the Islamic community. The Abbasids founded Baghdad as their capital in 762 and reoriented the regime around Islam rather than Arab privilege. Their realm initially expanded, but provincial autonomy, dissident movements, and rival dynasties progressively fragmented Abbasid authority, leaving the caliphs politically dependent on stronger powers.
Continue exploring
The Story
The Abbasid Revolution ended what the narrative calls the “Arab kingdom” of the Umayyad period. Its success depended on dissatisfied groups, especially non-Arab Muslims who demanded a fuller share in a community founded on equality among believers. The new dynasty therefore presented Islam, rather than Arab identity, as the principal basis of political legitimacy.
A decisive symbolic and geographical transformation came in 762, when the Abbasids transferred the capital from Syria to Iraq and founded Baghdad. The move shifted the empire’s centre of gravity toward the eastern provinces and accompanied a stronger official emphasis on orthodox Islam. During the first century of Abbasid rule, the caliphate continued to expand, including the annexation of Caspian provinces and the beginning of the Aghlabid conquest of Sicily.
The Abbasid realm was smaller than the former Umayyad empire because Muslim Spain remained outside it. During the first fifty years, the dynasty also lost control of African provinces west of Egypt to Kharijites and the Idrisids, while the governor of Ifriqiya, al-Aghlab, became virtually independent in 800. Later, dissident movements and provincial dynasties accelerated fragmentation: the Buyids controlled Iraq and made the Abbasid caliphs their political puppets, while the Fatimids detached Egypt, Syria, and Arabia.
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