Still standing in Baghdad, Iraq, the Mustansiriya Madrasah is one of the oldest universities in the world. It was established by Caliph Al-Mustansir, of the Abbasid Dynasty, in 1227 and took six years to be completed, opening its doors to students on 6 April 1233. At the time, madrasahs (schools) were used to foster Islamic thought and the Mustansiriya Madrasah was no different. Teaching Islamic doctrines as well as a range of other subjects, the school provided an advanced education for students who travelled to and stayed at the university to study under the guidance of prominent tutors.
The building itself is an astounding model of Islamic architectural design and remains an impressive example of the use of decorative geometric patterns that became popular during this period. The Madrasah operated as a university for nearly a century, surviving the Mongol Conquest of 1258 when it was partially destroyed but later rebuilt. Though studies continued under the Mongols for a period, the university eventually closed its doors, with evidence showing that the building was used for a time as a caravanserai (a type of roadside inn).
The Ottomans took control in Baghdad in 1534, and the school building was then used by craftsmen before becoming a customs office in later centuries. In the 20th century, the significance of the Mustansiriya Madrasah was recognised by the Directorate of Antiquities in Iraq, and the building began to be restored and preserved, with several of the surrounding buildings being demolished in order to restore the Madrasah’s original boundaries.