Rachel Parikh explains how this period of cultural, artistic and scientific advancements has impacted modern life

Headshot photo courtesy of: Ch. Deen

What were some of the foundational underpinnings of what we’ve come to call the Islamic Golden Age?

There are several factors and circumstances that led to the Golden Age. First, and perhaps most significantly, is the very nature of the Abbasid Caliphate (750-1258). It was a vast empire; at its greatest extent, it stretched from modern-day Tunisia to modern-day Pakistan. The empire also experienced virtually no external attacks and no internal political turmoil. Their power and stability can be accredited to unifying people under a single faith, that of Islam; the use and standardisation of Arabic; and the creation of an inclusive society, with policies that supported both Muslims and non-Muslims, such as Christians, Jews, and Zoroastrians.

Another factor was the establishment of the Abbasid’s capital of Baghdad. The second ruler of the Caliphate, Al-Mansur (r. 754-775), chose the location for its strategic position on the Tigris River and along the Silk Roads. Baghdad thus quickly became a major centre within this vast network of trade, commerce, and cultural exchange, and attracted merchants from all over, such as China, India, Ethiopia, and the Frankish lands.