Islamic Timeline of RevelationOpen on the timeline →Abbasid Caliphate
The Abbasid Caliphate overthrew the Umayyads and moved the capital to the new city of Baghdad, which became a world centre of scholarship during the Islamic Golden Age. From the 10th century real power passed to regional dynasties such as the Buyids and Seljuks. The Mongols sacked Baghdad in 1258; a line of Abbasid caliphs continued in Mamluk Cairo until 1517.
Key facts
| Dates | 750 CE – 1258 CE |
|---|---|
| Region | Arabia & the Caliphates |
| Continent | Asia, Africa |
| Capitals | Kufa, Baghdad, Samarra, Cairo (1261–1517) |
| Founder | Abu al-Abbas al-Saffah |
| Religion(s) | Sunni Islam |
| Peak extent | ≈ 11.1 million km² (c. 750 CE) – source |
Note on dates: End date is the Mongol sack of Baghdad; the Cairo-based Abbasid caliphate continued to 1517.
Before & after
Preceded by
Umayyad Caliphate Tulunid dynasty
Followed by
Mongol Empire Mamluk Sultanate Aghlabid Emirate Tulunid dynasty Bagratid Armenia Alavids (Zaydi emirate of Tabaristan) Sajid dynasty Habbari Emirate Ziyadid dynasty
In the Islamic timeline
- Abbasid Caliphate — Topic node for the same caliphate.
- Ja'far al-Sadiq (RH) — Lived through the Abbasid revolution and early Abbasid rule.
- Musa al-Kazim (RH) — Imprisoned under Harun al-Rashid.
- Hanafi School — Abu Hanifah's student Abu Yusuf became chief judge under the Abbasids.
- Maliki School — Malik ibn Anas taught in Medina under the early Abbasids.
- Shafi'i School — Al-Shafi'i lived and taught in the Abbasid era.
- Hanbali School — Ahmad ibn Hanbal resisted the Abbasid mihna (inquisition).
- Mu'tazilah — Mu'tazili doctrine was imposed during the mihna under al-Ma'mun.
- Ash'ari School of Theology — Al-Ash'ari founded his school in Abbasid Baghdad and Basra.
Sources
Dates follow widely used reference works; many ancient dates are approximate or debated. Neutral summary for general reference.