Skip to main content Accessibility help

We use cookies to distinguish you from other users and to provide you with a better experience on our websites. Close this message to accept cookies or find out how to manage your cookie settings.

Close cookie message
×
  1. Home
  2. Search

Refine search

Refine search

Access:
Content type:
Publication date:
Apply   From and To filters
Subject: Show more
Journals Show more
Publishers: Show more
Societies Show more
Series: Show more
Collections: Show more

Actions for selected content:

Select all | Deselect all
  • View selected items
  • Export citations
  • Download PDF (zip)
  • Save to Kindle
  • Save to Dropbox
  • Save to Google Drive

Save Search

You can save your searches here and later view and run them again in "My saved searches".

Please provide a title, maximum of 40 characters.
Cancel
×

1 results

  • 3 - The Golden Age of the Abbasid Caliphate (775–833)

  • Tayeb El-Hibri, University of Massachusetts, Amherst
  • Book:
    The Abbasid Caliphate
    Published online:
    28 April 2021
    Print publication:
    22 April 2021, pp 69-130

  • Summary

    The reign of the caliph Harun al-Rashid is entwined with history and legend. This chapter disentangles the influences of the Arabian Nights and Orientalism on this caliph's biography, and explores his pursuit of a centralizing policy that culminated with the overthrow of the Barmakid ministers and the establishment of his base in Raqqa. The caliphate of al-Rashid evokes a wide range of themes dealing with international trade, Byzantine war, foreign embassies to Charlemagne, and a contentious plan for caliphal succession between his sons, al-Amin and al-Ma'mun.In spite of a civil war, the caliphate recovers under al-Ma'mun and goes on to experience an age of scientific englightenment sparked by the famous Greek to Arabic translation movement centered on classical texts. Al-Ma'mun's interest in philosophy, and his support for the rationalizing sect of the Mu'tazila, however, culminates with a backlash from traditionalist scholars and a standoff in the episode known as the Mihna.