The House of Wisdom in Abbasid Baghdad

What was its primary role of the House of Wisdom in Abbasid Baghdad?

• A) A military base

• B) A library and translation center

• C) A marketplace

• D) A house of religious worship

Who was the Abbasid Caliph under whose patronage the House of Wisdom was established?

• Harun al-Rashid

• Al-Ma'mun

• Al-Mansur

• Al-Mu'tasim

• Ibn Khaldun

The House of Wisdom continued to flourish in the early 9th century under which Caliph?

• Al-Ma'mun

• Harun al-Rashid

• Al-Mansur

• Al-Mu'tasim

• Ibn Battuta

Which subjects were studied at the House of Wisdom?

• Mathematics and astronomy

• Medicine and chemistry

• Geography and philosophy

• All of the above.

Fill in the blank: The House of Wisdom was a symbol of the intellectual heart of (a)   during the Islamic Golden Age. (which city)?

What was the caliph Al-Ma'mun particularly passionate about?

• Building palaces so grand that he would impress any visiting dignitaries

• Collecting as much of the world’s knowledge as he could

• Leading military campaigns that would strengthen and protect the Abbasid caliphate

• Establishing trade routes with states in far-flung parts of the world

The House of Wisdom served as a bridge between the past and the future by preserving ancient ​ (a)   and encouraging new ​​ (b)   .

• trade
• warfare
• religious practices
• knowledge
• discoveries

What started the decline of the House of Wisdom?

• Lack of funding from the central government

• Internal strife and external pressures

• Natural disasters such as drought

• Technological advancements

• The Mongol sack of the city in 1258 CE.

Eventually, the House of Wisdom was sacked during the Mongol siege of Baghdad in the year (a)   CE.

While the House of Wisdom did do plenty of translation of old ancient Greek and Roman works, what was one of the original (new) contributions made by scholars at the House of Wisdom? [select 2]

• development of new languages

• improvement of mathematical knowledge

• construction of new buildings

• establishment of new religions

• created new astronomical charts and models