Question: Discuss the causes and consequences of the

Abbasid Revolution in the Islamic world.

Introduction
After the death of the Prophet Muhammad in 632 CE, the
caliphate was established. The first being the Rashidun
Caliphate, also known as the rightly guided caliphs. The
next being Umayyads caliphate who ruled over a huge
population and expanded their rule. Covering up to
11,100,000 km, making it one of the largest empires in
history in terms of area.
The Umayyad dynasty was overthrown dynasty by the
Abbasids, in 750. After overthrowing the Umayyad
Caliphate in the Abbasids governed as caliphs from 750 to
1517. During the rule of Abbasids ((775–861) there were
major developments leading this period to be known as the
Golden Age of Islam as they were great development in
science especially in the field of chemistry, philosophy, and
culture.
By criticizing the Umayyads' moral character and
administration, the Abbasids differentiated themselves
from the Umayyads. They appealed to non-Arab Muslims,
known as mawali, who were seen as a lesser class inside
the Umayyad empire since they were outside the Arabs'
kinship-based culture. They supported and eventually
defeated the Umayyads and Abbasids came into power this
is also known as the Abbasids revolution.
Abbasid Revolution
The Abbasid revolution was the first major military-political
upheaval in the Muslim world, which resulted in the
destruction of one dynasty and its replacement by another.
The Umayyads fell out of favor because they abandoned the
Tawhid culture that the Prophet established and which the
first four Caliphs followed. The Umayyads were skilled
troops, and while some were great statesmen like Amir
Muawiya and Waleed I), the majority were merciless,
impious, and brutal.
The main reason behind the Abbasid revolution was the
lack of ability of Umayyads to govern the state.
1. The Umayyads were unsuccessful in establishing the
legitimacy of their rule.
2. The Umayyads focus turned to riches and power over
the course of its establishment. The monarchs forgot
that Islamic rule was a divine trust with the primary
purpose of spreading the message of Tawheed.
3. The Umayyads ignored Islam's brotherly teaching and
regarded new converts with contempt. New converts
were not treated like the earlier converts as matter of
fact they should be treated equally.
4. Corruption, played a major role in the downfall of
Umayyads.
5. The Umayyads lost their capacity to promote social
cohesiveness. The tribal differences that were once
 mended and joined by prophet Muhammed(s) known
as brotherhood was resurfaced with renewed intensity.
The subsequent Omayyad kings struggled to
comprehend their desert predecessors' drive, energy,
passion, and pure faith.
Collectively, these factors lead to the emergence of Abbasid
revolution. To put it another way, the Umayyads had
reached the end of their reign.
The Abbasids were successful in every area where the
Umayyads had failed. They were headed by a charismatic
commander, championed a popular cause, fielded talented
generals, and demonstrated an opportunistic sense for
exploiting their opponents' flaws.
People from various background supported the Abbasid
Revolution, with nearly every level of society backing violent
resistance against Umayyad authority. This was especially
true among non-Arab Muslims, however even Arab
Muslims despised Umayyad rule and centralized control
over their nomadic existence. Sunnis and Shias, as well as
non-Muslim citizens of the empire who resented religious
discrimination came together and bought down the
Umayyad dynasty.
As the Abbasids established the new posts of vizier and
emir to transfer their central power, the Persian
bureaucracy gradually replaced the ancient Arab
aristocracy. They maintained an unbroken line of caliphs
for over three centuries, consolidating Islamic rule and
cultivating great intellectual and cultural developments in
the Middle East in the Golden Age of Islam.
They were many notable caliphs in the Abbasid dynasty
1. Abul ‘Abbas as-Saffaḥ was the first caliph of the Abbasid
caliphate, one of the longest and most important caliphates
in Islamic history. His reign lasted from 25 January 750
to10 June 754. He had the title was As-Saffah (‫)السفّاح‬,
meaning "the Blood-Shedder" because of his savage
attacks. A legal and dynastic base was created by him for
the upcoming empire.
2. Al-Mansur, the second caliph of the Abbasid dynasty,
generally regarded as the real founder of the Abbasid
caliphate. He established the capital city at Baghdad. He
reigns from 754 to 775. Due to Abbas As-Saffah's death
after only 5 years as caliph the main burden of
establishment of the dynasty came upon Al-Mansur. He
also played an important role in eradicating the remaining
vestiges of Umayyad resistance.
3. Al-Mahdi, was the third Abbasid Caliph who reigned
from 775 to his death in 785. He succeeded his father, al-
Mansur. Mahdi began his reign by freeing numerous
political prisoners, developing and beautifying Mecca and
Medina's holy sites, and building fountains for Hajj visitors.
He enhanced the postal service, boosted his secret service,
reinforced cities, and appointed more judges. His
philanthropy was extremely outstanding.
4. Harun al-Rashid Harun reigned from 786 to 809, which
is considered the beginnings of the Islamic Golden Age. He
founded the famous library Bayt al-Hikma translating to
"House of Wisdom" in Baghdad, Iraq, which flourished as a
world hub of knowledge, culture, and trade throughout his
reign. The dynasty bloomed during his reign in the field of
knowledge and architecture.
5. Al-Ma'mun, was the seventh Abbasid caliph, who
reigned from 813 to 833. He succeeded his half-brother al-
Amin after a civil war. The Translation Movement is
launched, along with a significant renovation of the House
of Wisdom and systematic assistance from experts for the
collection and translation of knowledge from other
civilizations. Notable mathematic innovations like the book
of algebra were also published under his authority.
6. Al-Musta'sim Billah was the 37th and last caliph of the
Abbasid Caliphate; he ruled from 1242 until his death in
1258.
He was invaded by the Mongols and thus, the Abbasid
dynasty ended.

There was notable development during the Abbasid

dynasty.
Baghdad, a new capital:
Al-Mansur, changed the empire's capital from Damascus to
a newly founded city. Established on the Tigris River in
762, Baghdad was closer to the Persian mawali support
base of the Abbasids, and this move addressed their
demand for less Arab dominance in the empire. Baghdad
would come to replace and overshadow Damascus as the
capital city of the empire. It was located near both the
Tigris and Euphrates rivers, making it an ideal spot for
food production that could sustain a large population.
The Abbasids built Baghdad from the ground up while
retaining the network of roads and commercial routes
created by the Persians before the Umayyad Dynasty
gained power. Baghdad was geographically positioned
between Asia and Europe, making it a key stop on the
continents' overland commerce routes. Ivory, soap, honey,
and diamonds were among the items trafficked via
Baghdad. Baghdad was known for producing and exporting
silk, glass, tiles, and paper. The city's strategic location and
vibrant commerce culture allowed for a dynamic
interchange of ideas as well.
With knowledge blossoming within its boundaries many
scholars settled in Baghdad. Harun al-Rashid, the Abbasid
Caliph, and his son, al-Ma'mun, who succeeded him,
constructed a House of Wisdom in Baghdad, which served
as a dedicated place for learning. Between 813 and 833, al-
reign Ma'mun's boosted the use and reputation of the
House of Wisdom. He went out of his way to bring
prominent academics to the House of Wisdom. Muslims,
Christians, and Jews all worked peacefully in the
establishment of the library.
Harun Rashid and Mamun encouraged a translation
movement, a formal translation of scholarly works from
Greek into Arabic. The Abbasid monarchs intended to
make Greek writings available to the Arab world, such as
Aristotle's works. Their objective was to translate as many
of these well-known books as they could in order to create
a comprehensive library of knowledge and to preserve
Greek philosophies and research. The Abbasids wanted
philosophical, scientific, and medical books to be
translated. Syrian Christians, in addition to Arab Muslim
academics, translated Syrian works into Arabic.
This translation movement developed Baghdad as a
knowledge hub and contributed further in the invention of
medicine. New settlement demanded skilled doctors so
having as much knowledge as possible for them to access
was a must.
In China, papermaking was a practice kept as a secret and
only elites could practice it, but after the Battle of Talas the
Arabs bought it home and learned how to produce texts on
a larger scale, establishing paper mills which made books
more accessible. In turn, Europeans eventually learned this
papermaking and producing skills from Arabs. So, with
improvements on printing technology knowledge became
quick and more accessible.

Mathematics
Significant development took place in the field of
mathematics like trigonometry, geometry and algebra. The
most revolutionary contribution was the discovery of zero.
Though it was discovered by the Indians it was during the
Abbasid that the concept of zero became global. The Arabic
numerical were also introduced in the west.
Astronomy
Astrolabe was developed by Al-Battani, it was used for
navigation by observing the position of the stars.this
invention made it possible for European sailors to sail to
America.
Medicine
Medicine in medieval Islam was an area of science that
advanced particularly during the Abbasids' reign.
Preventative and remedial aspects were developed. The
difference between measles and small pox was made.
Famous Persian scientist Ibn Sina composed more than n
270 works and the most famous ones are in the books “The
Canon of Medicine”and “The Book of Healing”. there was
as advancement there was advancement in the treatment
of cataract.

Science
The most important development was of the scientific
method of experimentation and quantification. ibn AL
Haytham developed an early scientific method in his Book
of Optics (1021), which explained how the human vision
takes place. Chemist Jabir discovered nitric acid and
developed the process of distillation, sublimation, filtration
and crystallization.
Philosophy
The transfer of knowledge from ancient Greece to the
Islamic world and the West was aided by works on
Aristotle. The frequently corrected the philosopher, leading
to a debate on ijtihad.
Literature
The best-known fiction from the Islamic world is The Book
of One Thousand and One Nights, a collection of fantastical
folk tales, legends and parables compiled primarily during
the Abbasid era. All Arabian fantasy tales were often called
"Arabian Nights", which influenced fictional writers' all over
the world.
The Abbasid era was a golden age for Arabic poetry,
especially before the collapse of central control and the
emergence of the Persianate dynasties. For example, the
Arabic poetry on Laila Majnoon got famous and later
translated into multiple languages. Under Harun al-
Rashid, Baghdad was renowned for its bookstores, which
proliferated after the making of paper was introduced.
Paper aided in communication and record-keeping, it also
brought a new sophistication and complexity to
businesses, banking, and the civil service.
Architecture
Islamic architecture is distinct in terms of is distinct in
terms of its unique elements and ornamentation. Baghdad
became among the first planned cities as the capital was
moved. Mansur, who was responsible for the creation of
Baghdad, also planned the city of Raqqa, along the
Euphrates. Mosques were built and old ones were
renovated. Due to the dry remote nature of the
environment, some of the palaces built in this era were
isolated havens. Example, Abu Dulaf Mosque and al-
Ukhaidir Fortress.
Administrative system
A proper administrative system was laid to control the
power and the power holders. Harun Rashid established a
separate "bureau of confiscation." The vizier could seize the
property and wealth of any corrupt governor or civil servant
according to this governmental wing. It also gave governors
the power to seize the estates of lower-ranking officials.
Finally, a vizier who has fallen out of favor with the caliph
might face the same punishment.
Hundreds of roads were constructed to connect the
imperial capital with neighboring cities and towns, and
every provincial metropolis had a post office. To distribute
mail, the empire used a relay system. The Baghdad central
post office even featured a map with instructions and
distances between each municipality. The roads were
equipped with roadside inns, hospices, and wells, and they
might stretch as far east as China, passing via Persia and
Central Asia. The post office operated as both a civil service
and a source of intelligence for the caliph. Mailmen were
used as spies to keep tabs on local events.

Conclusion
The Abbasid propaganda campaign against the Umayyads
was extremely effective, but the Abbasids continued to use
the same administration policies that had won them favor
against the Umayyads. The Abbasids took control of a
lesser state than their predecessors after dethroning the
reigning party. With the advent of the Abbasids, the Islamic
empire began to disintegrate. The Fatimid dynasty broke
from the Abbasids in 909 and created separate line of
caliphs in Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, and
Palestine until 1171 CE. Abbasid control eventually
disintegrated, and the edges of the empire declared local
autonomy. During the Abbasid rule the world saw great
development in aspects of math, science, philosophy,
literature etc. Discoveries made during that period are
building base of many researches today. The Abbasid
caliphate was the golden age of Islam as it was the longest
period of stability, in which centers of trade, learning and
innovation reached great heights.