Rise of the Abbasids (747–762)
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Question
Who were the Umayyads, and where did they rule from?
Answer
The first Muslim dynasty (661–750), ruling a vast empire from Damascus in Syria as an Arab-dominated state.
Question
Define mawali.
Answer
Non-Arab converts to Islam who were often still taxed and treated as inferior under the Umayyads — a key source of Abbasid support.
Question
Why was Khurasan important to the Abbasid Revolution?
Answer
This far-eastern province was full of discontented mawali and Arab settlers, distant from Damascus, and became the base for Abu Muslim's revolt.
Question
What weakened the Umayyads at the top after 743?
Answer
The death of Caliph Hisham sparked a dynastic civil war, with rival Umayyad princes fighting over the throne.
Question
What did Abu Muslim do in 747–748?
Answer
He raised open revolt in Khurasan under the black banners, uniting mawali and Arabs behind the 'family of the Prophet'.
Question
Why did the Abbasids use black banners?
Answer
Black flags were linked in tradition to a just ruler from the Prophet's family; they signalled the movement would put things right.
Question
What happened at the Battle of the Zab (750)?
Answer
The last Umayyad caliph, Marwan II, was crushed by the Abbasid army at the River Zab, effectively ending Umayyad rule.
Question
Who was al-Saffah?
Answer
Abu al-Abbas al-Saffah, proclaimed the first Abbasid caliph in 749–750 after the Umayyad defeat.
Question
Why did al-Mansur execute Abu Muslim in 755?
Answer
Abu Muslim was an over-mighty subject controlling Khurasan; al-Mansur removed him to stop him threatening the new dynasty.
Question
What was significant about the foundation of Baghdad (762)?
Answer
Al-Mansur built it as a purpose-built round capital in Iraq, shifting the empire's centre of gravity eastward toward Persia.
Question
On what basis did the Abbasids claim legitimacy?
Answer
Descent from al-Abbas, the uncle of the Prophet Muhammad, making them the 'family of the Prophet' the revolution had promised.
Question
Compare Umayyad and Abbasid power bases.
Answer
Umayyads: Damascus, Arab tribal armies, mawali kept below. Abbasids: Baghdad, a professional army, mawali included, Persian administrative traditions.
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Topic 8.2 hub
Case study 1 — the Abbasid Caliphate (Middle East)
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