1. Chapter Four, Lesson Two: The Golden Age

2. Under Abbasid Rule
Question: What factors led to Baghdad becoming a center of trade?
Along trade routes.
Had river traffic
Old Persian Royal Road.
Question: Why did Abu Jafar al Mansur move the capital from Damascus to Baghdad?
Abbasids had support there.
Mesopotamia was the richest province in the empire.

3. Under Abbasid Rule
Question: How were the Abbasids able to hold onto their power?
Large army
Used postal system to communicate.
Also used postal system to spy on provinces.
Question: What effect did moving the capital to Baghdad have on Muslim culture?
Arabs could not dominate.
Muslims took ideas from different areas.

4. The New Capital of Baghdad
Question: What did Baghdad’s economy rely on?
Taxes and wealth from manufacturing and trade.
Rich in gold, silver, copper, and iron
Pearls and gems
Question: What things did the Abbasids do to improve life?
Irrigation network
Improved food production
New breads of livestock

5. The New Capital City of Baghdad
Question: What sort of things did the Abbasids do to support trade?
Common coinage
Large empire
Trade routes were protected.
Question: What were positive effects of the increased trade for the upper class Abbasids?
Rich
Leisure time

6. Abbasid Culture
Question: What sort of art was popular in the Abbasid Empire?
Calligraphy
Geometric designs
Plant designs
Why not human images?
Question: How did bookmaking become important?
751: Abbasids capture Chinese papermakers
Papermaking spread throughout the Muslim world.
More books means more interest in learning.

7. Abbasid Achievements in Learning
Question: What are some Abbasid contributions to science and math?
Mapped the solar system and believed the world was round.
Developed algebra…thank an Abbasid!
Question: What advances did the Abbasids make in Medicine?
Described diseases
Performed surgery
Used herbal medicines to treat diseases.

8. A Divided Empire Question: Why did the Abbasids increase taxes?
Lost control of important trade routes
Wanted to continue their lavish lifestyle.
Question: What is a “faction” and what happened with them?
Faction…an opposing group.
Took control of distant parts.
Fatamids…took over control of North Africa.

9. A Divided Empire
Question: Who were the Seljuk Turks and what affect did they have on the Abbasid Empire?
Came from central Asia.
Conquered Baghdad in 1055
Ruled the empire for 200 years and governed according to Islamic Law.

10. A Divided Empire Question: What finally ended the Abbasid Empire?
THE MONGOLS!

11. Big Ideas…Lesson Three
Trade was important
Baghdad’s location
Trade routes
Manufacturing
Taxes
Abbasid contributions
Learned papermaking from Chinese
Calligraphy
Science and math
Medicine