Author Archives: Ruth

Charlemagne and the Caliph, 797

Posted on December 22, 2021 by Ruth

With Abd al-Rahman’s power increasing in Andalusia, the new Frankish kings, Pippin and his son Charlemagne, found that they had a common interest with the Caliphs in Baghdad. Baghdad was too far away to feel like a threat to Frankland. … Continue reading →

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Idris I of Morocco, 788-791

Posted on December 16, 2021 by Ruth

Idris was one of the family members of Ali’s descendants who attempted to rebel against the Abbasid Caliphs. His great-grandfather was Hassan, the older son of Ali and Fatimah. His half-brother was al-Nafs al-Zakiyyah, the Pure-Hearted One, whose uprising against … Continue reading →

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Europe’s First Great Mosque, Cordoba 786

Posted on December 16, 2021 by Ruth

Abd Al-Rahman, the half-Berber Umayyad prince, was firmly in control of the Iberian peninsula by the time Charlemagne became King of the Franks. He ruled until his death at age 58, which was long past the average life-expectancy of the … Continue reading →

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Cordoba, the new Umayyad Capital

Posted on December 16, 2021 by Ruth

Cordoba probably became the capital of Muslim administration because during the conquest years, around 711-715, it did not surrender. It was conquered militarily. When cities surrendered, their current officials could work out a deal to send tribute; when they didn’t, … Continue reading →

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Downfall of a Family: Who was Jafar? 803

Posted on December 16, 2021 by Ruth

The Barmakids were the wealthiest, most important family during early Abbasid years. “Barmak” may have been a hereditary title for the guardians of a Buddhist shrine in Balkh. The family converted to Islam very early and became part of the … Continue reading →

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Early Abbasid Queens, 754-809

Posted on December 14, 2021 by Ruth

The early Abbasid period was a time of unimaginable wealth. The empire was at its fullest extent, although tax and tribute from al-Andalus had dried up with going independent under Abd al-Rahman the Umayyad. Still, gold and jewels rolled in … Continue reading →

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Shi’ites: Imam Kazim, 745-799

Posted on December 13, 2021 by Ruth

Let’s review the Shi’ite Imam line that’s going on outside the spotlight, all this time. Ali is counted as the first Imam, since he claimed that title when he became Caliph—saying that “Caliph” had become corrupt, so he would be … Continue reading →

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Baghdad of Legend: the Arabian Nights

Posted on December 3, 2021 by Ruth

At the Round City’s House of Wisdom, the first work was to collect and translate the Persian books sitting in local libraries. We don’t know at what point they began to translate the Persian storybook that became the most successful … Continue reading →

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Baghdad: Paper Technology

Posted on December 3, 2021 by Ruth

Around 750, just before the Umayyads were overthrown in Damascus, you may remember that there was a battle at the far eastern front. It was like any other battle, but it was so close to the Chinese border that the … Continue reading →

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Baghdad: the House of Wisdom

Posted on December 3, 2021 by Ruth

Baghdad’s Round City featured a large building that was called, at first, The Bookstore. It was modeled after the Persian Empire’s library in Ctesiphon, but its chief purpose was to transfer civilization into the Arabic script of the recently-literate nomads. … Continue reading →

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