Why was Baghdad in such a strategically good location for trade, cultural exchange, and able to support a large population?

• Its central location between Asia and the Americas

• Its proximity to the Tigris and Euphrates rivers and therefore food

• Its proximity to the Baltic Sea and therefore fish and furs

The primary goal of the translation movement was to....

• translate Syriac texts into Arabic

• translate Arabic texts into Greek

• translate Greek texts into Arabic

The Abbasid Caliphate built which entirely new city as its capital?

• Baghdad

• Damascus

• Istanbul

Historians call this the Golden Age of Islam because, during this time,

• the Abbasid caliphs discovered a massive source of wealth under the city of Baghdad

• scholars preserved the knowledge from ancient texts and fostered new innovations

• there were no breakouts of war or conflict in the Islamic world

Before answering the question, re-read this excerpt by historian Yakut, describing Baghdad in the tenth century:

"The city of Baghdad formed two vast semi-circles on the right and left banks of the Tigris, twelve miles in diameter. The numerous suburbs, covered with parks, gardens, villas, and beautiful promenades, and plentifully supplied with rich bazaars, and finely built mosques and baths, stretched for a considerable distance on both sides of the river. In the days of its prosperity the population of Baghdad and its suburbs amounted to over two [million]! The palace of the Caliph stood in the midst of a vast park several hours in circumference, which beside a menagerie and aviary comprised an enclosure for wild animals reserved for the chase. The palace grounds were laid out with gardens and adorned with exquisite taste with plants, flowers, and trees, reservoirs and fountains, surrounded by sculpted figures. On this side of the river stood the palaces of the great nobles. Immense streets, none less than forty cubits wide, traversed the city from one end to the other, dividing it into blocks or quarters, each under the control of an overseer or supervisor, who looked after the cleanliness, sanitation and the comfort of the inhabitants."

From Michael Hamilton Morgan, Lost History: The Enduring Legacy of Muslim Scientists, Thinkers, and Artists (Washington, D.C.: National Geographic, 2007), 60-61

What might have been the effect of placing the palace of the Caliph “in the midst of a vast park several hours in circumference”?

• The palace stood out as a grand building separated from the living quarters of others, making it clear who the ruler was

• It made it difficult for the Caliph to venture outside of his palace, so he would only leave if something truly important came up

• It provided jobs for people who worked as gardeners or supervisors who looked after sanitation issues within the park

• The size of the park made it difficult for enemies to get through to attack the Caliph

Before answering the question, read the following excerpt:

"The period of the Abbasid caliphate is often called the Islamic Golden Age. The development of papermaking had spread, and by 900 there were many hundreds of shops in Baghdad where scribes, scriveners, bookbinders, and booksellers started producing books in such a manner that it was not long before public libraries were established. The University of Al Karaouine in Fez, Morocco, was established in 859, and this was followed by Al-Azhar University, Cairo, in 975. The former was the first to grant degrees, and the latter was the first to offer a variety of degrees, including degrees for postgraduates. In the case of Avicenna (ca. 980–1037), the best physician and philosopher of his time, it was his book Canon of Medicine that proved to be important in the diagnosing of many diseases and medical conditions such as cancer. Prior to the increase in book production, his ideas would not have flourished in the manner in which they did."

From “Abbasids,” Cultural Sociology of the Middle East, Asia, & Africa: An Encyclopedia. SAGE Publications, 2012.

The author argues that.............

• Avicenna’s work received attention it didn’t deserve thanks to the spread of paper making

• Avicenna wouldn’t have made his medical discoveries without the expansion of printmaking technology

• Printing in Baghdad helped facilitate the establishment of libraries and universities.

• Printing and book making had basically come to a halt by 900 CE

Before answering the question, re-read this excerpt by historian Yakut, describing Baghdad in the tenth century:

"The city of Baghdad formed two vast semi-circles on the right and left banks of the Tigris, twelve miles in diameter. The numerous suburbs, covered with parks, gardens, villas, and beautiful promenades, and plentifully supplied with rich bazaars, and finely built mosques and baths, stretched for a considerable distance on both sides of the river. In the days of its prosperity the population of Baghdad and its suburbs amounted to over two [million]! The palace of the Caliph stood in the midst of a vast park several hours in circumference, which beside a menagerie and aviary comprised an enclosure for wild animals reserved for the chase. The palace grounds were laid out with gardens and adorned with exquisite taste with plants, flowers, and trees, reservoirs and fountains, surrounded by sculpted figures. On this side of the river stood the palaces of the great nobles. Immense streets, none less than forty cubits wide, traversed the city from one end to the other, dividing it into blocks or quarters, each under the control of an overseer or supervisor, who looked after the cleanliness, sanitation and the comfort of the inhabitants."

From Michael Hamilton Morgan, Lost History: The Enduring Legacy of Muslim Scientists, Thinkers, and Artists (Washington, D.C.: National Geographic, 2007), 60-61

What might a historian conclude about the environment of Baghdad in relation to its community of scholars?

• Wide streets made it possible for scholars to get from one House of Wisdom to another

• The proximity of the Tigris river was important to scholars, who would be able to visit its banks and gain inspiration for their works

• Scholars probably liked hunting animals, which is why the Abbasids kept an enclosure of wild animals

• The high quality of life for residents in Baghdad fostered an environment where learning was possible

Before answering the question, re-read this excerpt by historian Yakut, describing Baghdad in the tenth century:

"The city of Baghdad formed two vast semi-circles on the right and left banks of the Tigris, twelve miles in diameter. The numerous suburbs, covered with parks, gardens, villas, and beautiful promenades, and plentifully supplied with rich bazaars, and finely built mosques and baths, stretched for a considerable distance on both sides of the river. In the days of its prosperity the population of Baghdad and its suburbs amounted to over two [million]! The palace of the Caliph stood in the midst of a vast park several hours in circumference, which beside a menagerie and aviary comprised an enclosure for wild animals reserved for the chase. The palace grounds were laid out with gardens and adorned with exquisite taste with plants, flowers, and trees, reservoirs and fountains, surrounded by sculpted figures. On this side of the river stood the palaces of the great nobles. Immense streets, none less than forty cubits wide, traversed the city from one end to the other, dividing it into blocks or quarters, each under the control of an overseer or supervisor, who looked after the cleanliness, sanitation and the comfort of the inhabitants."

From Michael Hamilton Morgan, Lost History: The Enduring Legacy of Muslim Scientists, Thinkers, and Artists (Washington, D.C.: National Geographic, 2007), 60-61

What might have been the effect of placing the palace of the Caliph “in the midst of a vast park several hours in circumference”?

• The palace stood out as a grand building separated from the living quarters of others, making it clear who the ruler was

• The size of the park made it difficult for enemies to get through to attack the Caliph

• It provided jobs for people who worked as gardeners or supervisors who looked after sanitation issues within the park

• It made it difficult for the Caliph to venture outside of his palace, so he would only leave if something truly important came up