MCQ Detailed View

The city of Baghdad was founded and established as the capital of the Abbasid Caliphate by Caliph Abu Ja’far Al-Mansoor in 762 CE (145 AH). Al-Mansoor was the second Abbasid Caliph and one of the most influential rulers of the dynasty. He chose Baghdad’s location strategically, on the banks of the Tigris River, due to its central position between key trade routes and its accessibility to different parts of the empire.

Baghdad was carefully designed in a circular plan, earning it the title “Madinat al-Salam” (City of Peace). The city quickly became a major political, cultural, and intellectual hub of the Islamic world. Under Abbasid rule, it flourished as a center of scholarship, attracting scientists, philosophers, and scholars from various lands, especially during the later reign of Harun al-Rashid and Al-Ma’mun.

Al-Mansoor’s decision to establish Baghdad as the capital marked a significant shift from the previous Umayyad capital in Damascus. It reflected the Abbasid vision of consolidating power and fostering a cosmopolitan environment for governance, trade, and knowledge. This decision laid the foundation for Baghdad’s golden age in Islamic history.

Key Facts:

• 
  

  Founded by: Caliph Abu Ja’far Al-Mansoor in 762 CE / 145 AH.

  
  


• 
  

  Reason for location: Strategic position on the Tigris River with access to trade and communication routes.

  
  


• 
  

  Original name: Madinat al-Salam (City of Peace).

  
  


• 
  

  Design: Circular city plan with the caliphal palace and mosque at the center.

  
  


• 
  

  Became the largest city in the world by the 9th century.

  
  


• 
  

  Served as the center of Islamic learning, science, and culture during the Abbasid Golden Age.