The word "Abbasids" is pronounced /əˈbɑːsɪdz/. The first syllable is pronounced with the schwa sound /ə/, which is the most common sound in English. The second syllable is pronounced with the long vowel sound /ɑː/. The following "-sids" ending is pronounced with a voiced sibilant /z/, making the plural of Abbasid. Abbasids refers to the Islamic dynasty that ruled in the Middle East from 750 to 1258 CE. Spelling this word correctly is important when writing about Islamic history and civilization.
The Abbasids refer to a dynasty that ruled over the Islamic Caliphate from 750 to 1258 CE. They succeeded the Umayyad dynasty as the second Islamic Caliphate and are often recognized as the golden age of Islamic civilization. The term "Abbasid" is derived from the Arabic name "Al-Abbas," which means "descendants of Abbas," the uncle of the Prophet Muhammad.
During the Abbasid era, the caliphs were based in the city of Baghdad, which became a prominent center for intellectual, cultural, and scientific advancements. The Abbasids adopted a more inclusive and cosmopolitan approach compared to their predecessors, embracing both Arabic and non-Arabic culture and fostering a more tolerant environment for artistic, scientific, and philosophical debates.
The Abbasid Caliphate witnessed significant advancements in various fields such as architecture, literature, mathematics, medicine, and astronomy. Scholars in the Abbasid court translated and preserved ancient Greek and Roman texts, as well as ancient Persian, Indian, and Chinese works. This translation movement resulted in the preservation and transmission of knowledge, and it greatly influenced later European Renaissance.
Despite the initial prosperity and cultural achievements of the Abbasids, internal conflicts and external invasions gradually weakened the dynasty. Within the Abbasid Caliphate, regional governors gained more autonomy, leading to the establishment of independent dynasties. Ultimately, the Mongol invasion in 1258 marked the end of the Abbasid dynasty and the destruction of Baghdad, resulting in a significant decline of Islamic intellectual and political power in the region.
The word Abbasids derives from the name of the dynasty that ruled the Islamic world from 750 to 1258. The Abbasid dynasty was founded by Abu al-`Abbas Abdallah ibn Muhammad as-Saffah, who traces his lineage back to Abbas, the uncle of the Prophet Muhammad. The name Abbasid is derived from Abbas, and it means descendants of Abbas.