New
New
Year 5

Baghdad's connection to the medieval world

I can describe the different ways in which Baghdad was connected to the wider medieval world.

New
New
Year 5

Baghdad's connection to the medieval world

I can describe the different ways in which Baghdad was connected to the wider medieval world.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Baghdad, and the wider Islamic world, was connected to both Asia and Europe by trade, communication and ideas.
  2. Baghdad was built on the Abbasids’ wealth from the Silk Road and added to it through trade from East to West.
  3. Baghdad was connected to the historic Greek and Persian dominance of the region through science and architecture.
  4. The Caliph’s sponsorship of the sciences and the arts meant that Baghdad both imported and exported classical knowledge.
  5. Baghdad’s House of Wisdom and its universities made it a centre of scientific discovery and engineering prowess.

Keywords

  • Medieval - medieval refers to the Middle Ages, a period in history that lasted from about 500 to 1500 CE

  • Sponsorship - sponsorship is when someone supports an event, activity or person, usually by giving money

  • Classical - classical refers to knowledge, ideas, art, literature, and cultural achievements from ancient Greece and Rome

  • Engineering - engineering is the use of science and maths to solve problems and build things

Common misconception

Baghdad, especially during the Abbasid Caliphate, was an isolated or insular city.

Baghdad was a major hub of trade, communication, and intellectual exchange, connecting the Islamic world with both Asia and Europe.

What universities are in your area? Look at the courses they have to offer, for example, in engineering, mathematics and the arts. Much of what is taught at university today has its foundation in the intellectual achievements and advancements that occurred in Baghdad during the medieval period.
Teacher tip

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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6 Questions

Q1.
was the capital of the Abbasid Caliphate.
Correct Answer: Baghdad, baghdad
Q2.
Who was Charlemagne?
an Abbasid caliph
Correct answer: the emperor of the Carolingian Empire
an Anglo-Saxon king
a messenger sent with gifts to Caliph Al-Rashid
Q3.
What was the Silk Road?
a single route that connected Baghdad to England
a single route that connected Asia to Europe
a network of routes that connected Baghdad to England
Correct answer: a network of routes that connected Asia to Europe
Q4.
Match the word to its explanation.
Correct Answer:Cordoba,part of Al-Andalus

part of Al-Andalus

Correct Answer:Abd al-Rahman,the founder and first ruler of the Emirate of Córdoba

the founder and first ruler of the Emirate of Córdoba

Correct Answer:emir,a ruler of an emirate

a ruler of an emirate

Q5.
What was the House of Wisdom?
Correct answer: a centre for learning and knowledge in Baghdad
a centre for learning and knowledge in London
a leisure centre in Baghdad
a centre for fun and games in Baghdad
Q6.
Who was Galen?
a religious leader
Correct answer: a doctor in Ancient Greece
a character from Greek mythology
a Muslim scholar

6 Questions

Q1.
During the Caliphate, Baghdad became a thriving city that connected the East and West.
Muslim
Rashidun
Umayyad
Correct answer: Abbasid
Q2.
The period in history that lasted from about 500 to 1500 CE is known as the period.
Correct answer: medieval
evil
middle
dark
Q3.
The Road connected Baghdad, and the wider Islamic world, to both Asia and Europe.
Correct Answer: Silk, silk
Q4.
Scholars in Baghdad translated texts from languages like Greek, Latin and Persian into Arabic.
modern
Correct answer: classical
abstract
musical
Q5.
Name two ways in which the Abbasid Caliphate became wealthy.
by selling land in the caliphate
by sending scholars to China
Correct answer: imposing taxes in merchants who passed through Abbasid lands
Correct answer: trading in luxury goods
Q6.
Why did scholars go to Baghdad to translate classical texts?
Correct answer: they were offered sponsorships, such as money
to escape hardships in their own countries
to learn to speak Arabic

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