Unit 21: Paper 3 (HL) — History of Africa & the Middle East
Topic 21.1: The 'Abbasid dynasty (750–1258) Questions
Practice 20 exam-style questions for IB History Topic 21.1. Review the question stems below, then unlock the full Question Bank to access markschemes, model answers, and AI grading.
1Choose1 mark
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Choose the caliph who founded Baghdad as the new 'Abbasid capital in 762.
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Choose the event that ended the 'Abbasid dynasty's political power in Iraq in 1258.
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Unlock Question3Examine15 marks
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Examine the causes of the 'Abbasid overthrow of the Umayyad Caliphate in 750.
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Evaluate the importance of the Hashimiyya movement in bringing about the 'Abbasid Revolution of 750.
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Discuss the reasons for the 'Abbasid military victory over the Umayyads between 747 and 750.
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To what extent was the foundation of Baghdad in 762 a turning point in the history of the Islamic caliphate?
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Examine the consequences of the 'Abbasid Revolution for the Umayyad family and for Shi'a Muslims.
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Discuss the role played by Abu Muslim in the overthrow of the Umayyad Caliphate.
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Evaluate the view that the 'Abbasid Revolution of 750 was primarily a religious movement rather than a political one.
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Unlock Question10Compare and contrast15 marks
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Compare and contrast the causes of the 'Abbasid overthrow of the Umayyad Caliphate (750) with the causes of the rise of the Zulu kingdom under Shaka (from 1816) as examples of major political transformation.
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Analyse the reasons why the 'Abbasids moved the centre of the caliphate from Syria to Iraq after 750.
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To what extent did tribal and regional rivalries, rather than religious grievances, explain the fall of the Umayyad Caliphate?
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Compare and contrast the reigns of al-Mansur and Harun al-Rashid as 'Abbasid caliphs.
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Discuss the role of the caliph's ministers and military commanders in shaping the fortunes of the 'Abbasid Caliphate.
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Examine the methods used by al-Mansur to consolidate 'Abbasid rule between 754 and 775.
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Evaluate the achievements of Harun al-Rashid as ruler of the 'Abbasid Caliphate.
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Discuss the significance of al-Ma'mun's reign for the development of the 'Abbasid Caliphate.
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To what extent was state patronage responsible for the Golden Age of Islam under the 'Abbasid Caliphate?
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Analyse the reasons for the loss of 'Abbasid caliphal authority between the ninth and eleventh centuries.
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Evaluate the view that the Mongol invasion of 1258 was the primary cause of the fall of the 'Abbasid Caliphate.
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