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The Golden Age of the `Abbasid Caliphate

The Golden Age of the `Abbasid Caliphate. HIST 1007 9/23/13. Ibn Khaldun (1332-1406). North African historian Father of modern social sciences Used history to generate theories and models about human society Muqaddimah – The prologue to his chronicle Kitab al- Ibar

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The Golden Age of the `Abbasid Caliphate

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  1. The Golden Age of the `Abbasid Caliphate HIST 1007 9/23/13

  2. IbnKhaldun (1332-1406) • North African historian • Father of modern social sciences • Used history to generate theories and models about human society • Muqaddimah – The prologue to his chronicle Kitab al-Ibar (Book of Lessons)

  3. IbnKhaldun’s Four Generational Model First generation – “builder of glory” Fought hard to achieve success Second generation – “inherited leadership” Learned to rule by watching his father Third generation – “traditionalists” Rely on tradition when making decisions Fourth generation – “entitled rulers” Believe they were born to rule

  4. `Abbasids – First Generation • Abu al-`Abbas `Abdullah b. Muhammad al-Saffah (r. 750-754) • Grab and then consolidate power • Were other groups looking to gain power through revolution? • Abu Salama – head of `Abbasid dawa • Killed after dinner with al-Saffah… but whodunnit?

  5. Challenges to `Abbasid Power • Big tent revolution means many constituencies to please • `Abbasid Family • Persians • Khurasani Arabs • Shi’ites • Sunni religious scholars

  6. `Abbasids – First Generation • Abu Ja`far `Abdullah b. Muhammad al-Mansur (r. 754-775) • Brother of al-Saffah • `Abdullah b. `Ali – uncle, revolutionary general, challenges rule • Rules of succession • Abu Muslim puts down `Abdullah’s revolt

  7. Abu Muslim and Challenges to Authority • Abu Muslim – governor of the east • Can he be trusted? • 755 – Invited to al-Mansur’s court • Leaves supporters at garrisons throughout Iran • Abu Muslim killed and tossed in the Tigris • Abu Muslim becomes legendary figure – Abu Muslim nameh

  8. Shi’ite Challenges to Authority • `Alids – descendants of `Ali and Fatima • Invited to court, offered state pension • Muhammad “al-Nafs al-Zakya” (The Pure Soul) and Ibrahim b. `Abdullah • 762 – Muhammad revolts in Medina • Medina’s status in the empire • 763 – Ibrahim revolts in Basra

  9. Consolidation of Authority • `Abbasid Family • al-Saffah and al-Mansur had seven uncles • Establish courts in the provinces • Salih – granted Umayyad family property in Syria (marries Marwan II’s widow) • al-Mansur and al-Saffah’s sons largely stay at court QasrUkhaydir – first `Abbasid palace, near Kufa

  10. Consolidating Authority • Bureaucracy • Create a large, stable institution • Families of high ranking bureaucrats dependent on the caliphate for their position • Chamberlain – control access to caliph • Rabi b. Yunus and Fadl b. Rabi – slave turned freeman (mawla) of al-Mansur turned chamberlain • Advancement by attachment to royal family

  11. Bureaucracy • Salaried professional clerks (kuttab) • Working in government offices (diwan) • Standardized formalities • Qudama b. Ja`far (d. 948) – Kitab al-kharajwa sina`at al-kitaba (Book of the Land Tax and the Art of the Secretary) • Emergence of paper

  12. Bureaucracy • Barid– post office, but also intelligence • Deliver official correspondence • Spy on governors, judges, etc. • Get news to the caliph fast • Shurta – police, city guard of the capital • Haras – Caliph’s private guard

  13. The Round City of Baghdad • 762 – founded as new capital by al-Mansur • Centrally located in Iraq • Near Ctesiphon • Planned round city • Property for loyalty • Attracts people from around empire

  14. Baghdadi Elites • abna’ al-dawla – literally “sons of the dynasty” • Khurasani Arab soldiers who had fought in the revolution • Given property in Baghdad • Build shops, markets, bakeries, etc. and collect rents for wealth

  15. Bureaucracy and the Second Generation • 775 – al-Mansur goes on pilgrimage • bay`ah (oath of allegiance) given to Muhammad b. Mansur al-Mahdi (r. 775-785) • Travels with Rabi b. Yunus and Musa b. al-Mahdi • Rabi hides al-Mansur’s death until the bay`ah for al-Mahdi can be renewed with Musa

  16. Barmakids • Vizier – Chief advisor to the caliph • Guardians of the Nawbahar Buddhist shrine outside Balkh • Come to the `Abbasid cause • Khalid b. Barmak (705-782) – managed finances during revolution • Yahya b. Khalid (d. 806) – “whereas most men begat sons, Yahya had begotten a father” Bamiyan and its Buddhas

  17. Barmakids and `Abbasids • 758 – al-Mansur sends al-Mahdi to Rayy as governor of the east • Yahya b. Khalid goes as his advisor • Harun b. al-Mansur and Fadl b. Yahya • 780 – Harun sent on Byzantine campaign • Yahya sent to administer the army • Yahya as father figure

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