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In this accessibly written history, Amira K. Bennison contradicts the common assumption that Islam somehow interrupted the smooth flow of Western civilization from its Graeco-Roman origins to its more recent European and American manifestations. Instead, she places Islamic civilization in the longer trajectory of Mediterranean civilizations and sees the ‘Abbasid Empire (750–1258 CE) as the inheritor and interpreter of Graeco-Roman traditions.At its zenith the ‘Abbasid caliphate stretched over the entire Middle East and part of North Africa, and influenced Islamic regimes as far west as Spain. Bennison’s examination of the politics, society, and culture of the ‘Abbasid period presents a picture of a society that nurtured many of the “civilized” values that Western civilization claims to represent, albeit in different premodern forms: from urban planning and international trade networks to religious pluralism and academic research. Bennison’s argument counters the common Western view of Muslim culture as alien and offers a new perspective on the relationship between Western and Islamic cultures.
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The Great Caliphs This page intentionally left blank 87 The Great Caliphs THE GOLDEN AGE OF THE ‘ABBASID EMPIRE AMIRA K. BENNISON Yale University Press New Haven & London Published in the United States in 2009 by Yale University Press. Published in the United Kingdom in 2009 by I.B.Tauris & Co. Ltd. Copyright ∫ 2009 by Amira Bennison All rights reserved. This book may not be reproduced, in whole or in part, including illustrations, in any form (beyond that copying permitted by Sections 107 and 108 of the U.S. Copyright Law and except by reviewers for the public press), without written permission from the publishers. Typeset in Adobe Caslon Pro by A. & D. Worthington, Newmarket, Su√olk. Printed in the United States of America. Library of Congress Control Number: 2009922520 ISBN 978-0-300-15227-2 (hardcover : alk. paper) A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library. This paper meets the requirements of ANSI/NISO Z39.48-1992 (Permanence of Paper). 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Contents List of Illustrations Acknowledgements Note on Transliteration and Arabic Conventions Introduction . 2. 3. 4. vii ix x A Stormy Sea: The Politics of the ‘Abbasid Caliphate The making of an empire • The Umayyads: Islam’s first caliphal dynasty • The rise of the ‘Abbasids • The early ‘Abbasid caliphate • The Samarran interlude • The Shi‘i century • The Saljuq sultanate and the ‘Sunni revival’ • The Crusades and the twilight of the caliphate 0 From Baghdad to Cordoba: The Cities of Classical Islam Arab urbanism at the dawn of Islam • The first Muslim towns • Umayyad urbanism • ‘Abbasid imperial cities and their imitators • Provincial cities in the ‘Abbasid age 54 Princes and Beggars: Life and Society in the ‘Abbasid Age Peasants and country folk • The people of the city • Women and children • The religious minorities • Beggars and tricksters 94 The Lifeblood of Empire: Trade and Traders in the ‘Abbasid Age Routes and commodities • Merchants and pilgrims • Trade facilities 37 5. 6. Baghdad’s ‘Golden Age’: Islam’s Scientific Renaissance The foundations of Islamic learning • The flowering of knowledge under the ‘Abbasids • The ‘Abbasid translation movement • Translations, translators and scientists • Knowledge and science after the translation movement 58 The ‘Abbasid Legacy 203 Notes 2 6 Index 235 Bibliography 225 Illustrations . 2. 3.