Middle East, a new dynasty seized control of one of the world’s greatest empires – the Islamic Caliphate. Though little remembered in the west today, the Abbasids reigned for five centuries. They ...

The Golden Age of Islam saw an explosion of ideas ... The Abbasid caliphs (leaders) wanted people to learn. The city had a number of libraries, universities, hospitals, schools and the famous ...

The Islamic Golden age began during the Abbasid caliphate which was centred around the city of Baghdad. In 1258, the Mongol armies from the east destroyed Baghdad and ended Abbasid rule.