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Baghdad was the capital of the Abbasids Caliphate that had “no peer in the east or the west of the world in extent, size, and prosperity” (Al-Ya’qubi 69). The city is situated between the Tigris and Euphrates, two great rivers. Such location of Baghdad greatly facilitated the trade relationships so that the goods imported from India, China, Tibet, Turkey and other countries were highly available. The imported goods were widespread to the extent that they overcame the amount of the domestic products. In other words, the goods were delivered so promptly as if Baghdad was the center of the export. On the one hand, Baghdad was the embodiment of Abbasid’s power and social status. However, its physical structure of brick and ironclad walls discourages the idea of invulnerability.
In the very beginning, the city project was carefully planned by the caliph. The city was founded by caliph Abu Ja’far Al-Mansur , the descendant of Abbasid dynasty, believing that “this is indeed the city which my father Muhammad ibn ‘Ali told [he] must build, in which [he] must live ”( Al-Ya’qubi 73). Thus, the Caliph gave orders to start building and called for the masons, artisans, smiths, and diggers who knew at least something about constructing. As a result, he gathered about 100,000 workers and architects. The Abbasids planned to organize the city in a round form so that it could be equally monitored by the governor. However, such structure turn out too dangerous and unreliable because, the caliph was more focused on the city’s image and innovations. Hence, the city was provided with four gates that were called the Gate of Kufa, the Gate of Basra, the Gate of Khurasan, and the Gate of Syria (Al-Ya’qubi 73). The distance between the gates was equal and counted 5.000 black cubits. Each gate has its own arcade with gilded dome. Around the arcades people could walk, sit, and watch what was going on below them. The arcades led to a courtyard from which one could easily get to the great square.
Though the security system of Baghdad looked reliable, still it had some shortcomings. Abbasids were focused mostly on the appearance rather than the safety. Thus, in the center of the square there was the Caliph’s palace called the Golden Gate. The cathedral mosque was situated near the palace. It is worth mentioning that the palace was not surrounded by either private houses or other dwellings, except for a building for horse guards and a gallery supported by columns. Chief of police occupied the first building and, the commander of the guard dwelt in the second one. The sons of the al-Mansur lived in the surrounding areas of the square with their slaves attached to them. The streets of the city were named after the people who lived in that street. For instance, there was Street of Police, the Street of Haytham, or even the Street of the Women (Al-Ya’qubi 76). Each street was inhabited by the chief officers who lived near the Caliph.
The social life of Baghdad was extremely diverse owing to the wide range of layers that existed in the society. Since Baghdad turned out into a complex trade network, it led to the formation of the merchant communities. Merchants exchanged not only goods but also religious and cultural experiences. The activity of the communities was mostly due to the needs of the court. It was obvious the caliphs required the luxury way of living. The slaves were also the main attribute of caliphs and welfare people of Baghdad (Gordon 58). Slavery was also an inherent component of commerce. Finally, Baghdad became the outstanding educational hub with its House of Wisdom. (Gordon 64) Consequently, the science was also of paramount importance.
The high safety of physical structure of the capital testifies to a well-organized hierarchy of power. Thus, in the period of Abbasid reign, the city had a powerful army and police, a well-organized court headed by the Caliph. Though the advent of Abbasid dynasty to power was succeeded by the revolutions, it however brought Baghdad to well-being and success (Gordon 45). Anyway, the drawbacks in building and physical structure were obvious since the caliph was more concerned with army and slaves rather than with security.
Bibliography
Gordon, Matthew. 2005. The Rise of Islam US: Greenwood Press.
Al-Ya’qubi Baghdad. Buldan. pp. 69-78.
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