History
The Umayyads, the Abbasids, and an age of learning
Algebra and algorithm come from one Baghdad scholar.
5 min, Intro, Draft written with AI help: awaiting scholar review
Part 1 of 4
The Umayyads made Damascus their capital and ruled from Spain to Central Asia. They made Arabic the language of government, minted Islamic coins, and built the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem. Many resented them as kings, not caliphs.
Lesson
Mu'awiyah named his son as heir, and the caliphate became hereditary.
Part 2 of 4
After the Umayyads came the Abbasids, descended from the Prophet's uncle al-'Abbas. In 762 they built Baghdad as a round city on the Tigris. It grew into one of the largest cities in the world, with paper mills, hospitals and markets.
Lesson
Cheap paper made cheap books, and books spread ideas.
Part 3 of 4
In Baghdad, caliphs like al-Ma'mun funded translation of Greek, Persian and Indian works into Arabic. Then scholars went further: al-Khwarizmi's algebra, Ibn al-Haytham's optics, Ibn Sina's medicine, taught in Europe for centuries.
Qur'an 3:190
إِنَّ فِي خَلۡقِ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَٱخۡتِلَٰفِ ٱلَّيۡلِ وَٱلنَّهَارِ لَأٓيَٰتࣲ لِّأُوْلِي ٱلۡأَلۡبَٰبِ ١٩٠
190 Indeed, in the creation of the heavens and earth and the alternation of the night and day are signs for people of understanding,
Lesson
Algebra and algorithm both come from one Baghdad scholar, al-Khwarizmi.
Part 4 of 4
Over time the Abbasids lost real power to local dynasties. Then, in 1258, the Mongols sacked Baghdad and killed the caliph. But learning moved on, to Cairo, Damascus, Persia and beyond.
Lesson
Baghdad fell in 1258, but its learning moved on.
Reflect, just for you
Seen by lamplight. It gives more each time.
Algebra and algorithm come from one Baghdad scholar.