Indeed, one of the marvels of Abbasid Baghdad was that people from all over the Muslim world, be they be Muslim, Jewish, or Christian, traveled to Baghdad to gain and spread knowledge. As Wiet states, “Men of letters and of science had gathered in this city either through cultural affinity or because they ahd been summoned to the caliph’s court for their worth or their competence”.
Potential depiction of the houses of Baghdad.
Al Mamun Street still honours the Caliph Mamun for his crucial role in the development of Baghdad.
There were people of all types who lived in Baghdad. There were Turks, Central Asians, Arabs, and Persians, to name a few. After the reign of the Great Caliph Harun al-Rashid, there was a conflict for his succession. He had an Arab son Amin and Mamun, who had an Iranian mother. The Caliphate was given to Mamun, and under him, many of the Persian customs were brought in and many Persians thrived in Baghdad. He was a great caliph, and even to this day, there is a street named after him.
An Arab historian states the following on Mamun: “He looked for knowledge where it was evident, and thanks to the breadth of his conceptions ad the power of his intelligence, he drew it from places where it was hidden.”
Due to the advancements occurring in Baghdad, many in the nearby regions sought the prosperity that was thriving in Baghdad. The map below displays the various regions that existed surrounding the Abbasid Caliphate.
The Abbasid Caliphate and surrounding regions. Various peoples traveled to the Caliphate during the Golden Era.
By the ninth century and into the tenth century, the prosperity of Baghdad had been on a decline. Caliph Radi who ruled in the mid-900s stated regarding the decline that “Baghdad had prestige when there were ten million dinars in the state’s strong boxes. But now there is no more money, and it is like any other city”.
Even though Baghdad was not as properous as it once want, it was still regarded with high esteem by the rest of the Muslim world as the capital of the Islamic caliphate. People still migrated to it, and therefore we see a wide range of customs and traditions thriving side by side in Baghdad.
This is how the Caliphs usually looked like.
Most Bedouins lived in open tents.
There are few depictions of how the Baghdadi inhabitants would have looked like. Here is one of them. It is followed by potential depictions of males and females in Baghdad.
In 1256, Baghdad witnessed the biggest flood in its history. It happened soon after the family of Bassam arrived in Baghdad. Here is the entry he writes from that day.
654 Hijri/1256 Miladi [Birth – A.D.]
Are we bad luck or what could we possibly have done to anger our Lord? Is it a mere coincidence that right after our arrival, the city of Baghdad could be this covered with water? Indeed the neighbor Malik looks at us anew. Superstitions are still quite rampant here I assume.
Rusafa which we only went a few weeks ago to, is now all flooded. The East Bank is no more. There is water everywhere, and all I hear is screaming for help. Father went out with the rescue crews today to help those stuck in the waters. I am grateful that so many Baghdadis came out to help others. The mothers with their suckling infants nursing the injured and fathers discarding their traditional robes to better wade into these waters that our people were never meant for has made me renew hope.
It seems that the few possessions we had on us from Alamut are now even less than what they were. I am glad that I have this journal with me. At least I can immerse myself at need into the fresh breeze of Alamut with the Hashim children screaming with laughter and the birds screeching oh so beautifully up above.
But never mind Alamut now, the city is long-gone. Baghdad now cries for help. The banks have flooded into the streets and even the upper floors of houses are submerged in water. Even the Caliph’s Palace is flooded with water, and people are traveling by boat.
It has been three days since the waters have risen. I wonder how long this will last and how soon Baghdad will rise up again?
People here are now weary of the talk of those dreaded monsters in Alamut. Rumours are flying that they might be heading towards Baghdad, please do not let it be so! The Caliph Musta’sim says that its nothing to be worried about. They do seem far away. I hope it remains so!
On January 11, 1258, Baghdad saw the Mongols in the distance. What ensued annihilated the Abbasid Caliphate. Here is Bassam’s entry from the eve of the attack.
3rd Muharram, 656 Hijri/January 10th, 1258 Miladi [Birth – A.D.]
They will be here soon. Those monsters will be here soon. But we are ready. Nay! I am ready! I will fight with my brothers to avenge the blood of my people. I will do it!
The city is bustling with nervousness as the sun settles. Let it settle for we will not settle until their bodies are strewn over the streets as the people of Alamut were! Father says I am being too reckless, that I am underestimating their strength. How could they possibly break through the fortified City of Peace?! Mother is not as optimistic as I am, but I will prove to them that victory shall be ours tomorrow!
It is difficult to prepare for an attack when our Caliph does not believe that it will ever happen. His lack of action has divided the people of Baghdad. There are those like us who have witnessed the power and ruthlessness of the Mongols, and we have brought out our best swords and fashioned our best shields. Neighbour Malik believes in the Caliph, and says that he knows what is best for Baghdad. Even the Caliph isn’t worried, we should not be either. I just cannot agree with him. A part of me quakes at the remembrance of them!
All the gates have been closed and all the able boys and men have readied their bows and arrows. We are prepared to defend Baghdad tomorrow from the city walls and our roof tops. We shall not fail this time.
It is almost dawn…
[there is a break in the entry]
Smoke! The City Guard sees smoke! It is the dust rising as their monster steeds thunder down the desert towards us. They are here! The cloud of dust is taking over the city, and people are climbing their roof tops to see what the commotion is all about. I guess there are still people who doubt that the Mongols are coming.
Their army, their cavalry, their equipment, they all thunder down upon us. Hulagu Khan, I await your arrival, just you wait! The moment has finally come!
