sured two kilometers in diameter, featuring four main gates with thick walls.

The arrival of the Abbasids, for whom Mansur was its second caliph, saw the previously marginalized Persians enjoying fresh freedoms, which prompted the rise of Arab-Persian discourse and the exchange of cultural and artistic skills. The Persians had a rich and long culture and were able to expre

Hardly a day goes by these days without news of tragedy in Iraq. Since the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003, the country and its capital Baghdad have been the arena for bloodshed between foreign forces and local factions. Throughout its history, Baghdad has been the scene of many battles, coups, political upheaval and tragedies. However, it is more famous as one of history’s most vibrant and culturally rich cities that coincided with a great period in Islam.

The name “Baghdad” is thought to have Persian origins and means “God’s gift”. Indeed, the city was a gift to Muslims at a time when leading scholars such as Abu Haneefa taught Islam to the world.

Baghdad, around 90 kilometers north of the great Ancient city of Babylon, was built on the west bank of the Tigris on July 30 762 and has been a city in the limelight ever since. Here are some of the landmark points in time of Baghdad’s rise, and fall.

Baghdad Begins The rise of Baghdad started with its establishment in 762 AD when the Abbasid dynasty took over the Muslim world and made the newly founded city its capital under Caliph Abu Ja'far Abdallah ibn Muhammad al-Mansur. This was the start of the Golden Age of Islam, with the city being the center of education for religion, sciences and humanities.

The caliph brought in builders from all over the region to make his plans for a grand urban city a reality. Baghdad became known as the Round City, which was based on the caliph’s circular design. It was completed in 766-7 and measured two kilometers in diameter, featuring four main gates with thick walls.

The arrival of the Abbasids, for whom Mansur was its second caliph, saw the previously marginalized Persians enjoying fresh freedoms, which prompted the rise of Arab-Persian discourse and the exchange of cultural and artistic skills. The Persians had a rich and long culture and were able to expres

vibrant and culturally rich cities that coincided with a great period in Islam.

The name “Baghdad” is thought to have Persian origins and means “God’s gift”. Indeed, the city was a gift to Muslims at a time when leading scholars such as Abu Haneefa taught Islam to the world.

Baghdad, around 90 kilometers north of the great Ancient city of Babylon, was built on the west bank of the Tigris on July 30 762 and has been a city in the limelight ever since. Here are some of the landmark points in time of Baghdad’s rise, and fall.

Baghdad Begins The rise of Baghdad started with its establishment in 762 AD when the Abbasid dynasty took over the Muslim world and made the newly founded city its capital under Caliph Abu Ja'far Abdallah ibn Muhammad al-Mansur. This was the start of the Golden Age of Islam, with the city being the center of education for religion, sciences and humanities.

The caliph brought in builders from all over the region to make his plans for a grand urban city a reality. Baghdad became known as the Round City, which was based on the caliph’s circular design. It was completed in 766-7 and measured two kilometers in diameter, featuring four main gates with thick walls.

The arrival of the Abbasids, for whom Mansur was its second caliph, saw the previously marginalized Persians enjoying fresh freedoms, which prompted the rise of Arab-Persian discourse and the exchange of cultural and artistic skills. The Persians had a rich and long culture and were able to expre

est bank of the Tigris on July 30 762 and has been a city in the limelight ever since. Here are some of the landmark points in time of Baghdad’s rise, and fall.

Baghdad Begins The rise of Baghdad started with its establishment in 762 AD when the Abbasid dynasty took over the Muslim world and made the newly founded city its capital under Caliph Abu Ja'far Abdallah ibn Muhammad al-Mansur. This was the start of the Golden Age of Islam, with the city being the center of education for religion, sciences and humanities.

The caliph brought in builders from all over the region to make his plans for a grand urban city a reality. Baghdad became known as the Round City, which was based on the caliph’s circular design. It was completed in 766-7 and measured two kilometers in diameter, featuring four main gates with thick walls.

The arrival of the Abbasids, for whom Mansur was its second caliph, saw the previously marginalized Persians enjoying fresh freedoms, which prompted the rise of Arab-Persian discourse and the exchange of cultural and artistic skills. The Persians had a rich and long culture and were able to expre

mad al-Mansur. This was the start of the Golden Age of Islam, with the city being the center of education for religion, sciences and humanities.

The caliph brought in builders from all over the region to make his plans for a grand urban city a reality. Baghdad became known as the Round City, which was based on the caliph’s circular design. It was completed in 766-7 and measured two kilometers in diameter, featuring four main gates with thick walls.

The arrival of the Abbasids, for whom Mansur was its second caliph, saw the previously marginalized Persians enjoying fresh freedoms, which prompted the rise of Arab-Persian discourse and the exchange of cultural and artistic skills. The Persians had a rich and long culture and were able to expre

sured two kilometers in diameter, featuring four main gates with thick walls.

The arrival of the Abbasids, for whom Mansur was its second caliph, saw the previously marginalized Persians enjoying fresh freedoms, which prompted the rise of Arab-Persian discourse and the exchange of cultural and artistic skills. The Persians had a rich and long culture and were able to express themselves more freely in promoting their own ideas and arts as superior to those of the Arabs.

Caliph Mansur also established the Bayt al-Hikmah, (House of Wisdom), which became one of the most famous learning centers in the modern world, attracting scholars from a variety of faiths and nations. The caliph’s reign, which lasted until 775, also saw the increase in the number of non-Arabs who converted to Islam. He died in 775 while en route to Mecca to perform Haj.

The Center of Civilization While Caliph Mansur laid the foundations for Baghdad’s greatness, only during the reign of the fifth caliph of Islam, Harun Al-Rashid (789-809) did the city truly become the center for modern civilization. Europe was still in the dark ages while Baghdad thrived under Harun, who was hailed as a great leader by Charlemagne himself. The caliph also established diplomatic relations with China.

During this time, anyone of importance in the religious, literary and scientific worlds either knew of Baghdad or endeavored to go there to teach and seek knowledge. Harun, recognized as a strict Muslim who made numerous trips to Mecca for Haj, was immortalized in western tales of the Arabian Nights. Baghdad was a model city in terms of architecture, administration, education and jurisprudence, supported by a caliph who himself was extremely knowledgeable in literature and the arts. Baghdad, and indeed the Islamic world, was never more powerful and influential under his rule than at any time in history, eit