'Abbasid dynasty

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The second of the two great Sunnite dynasties of the Islamic Caliphate.

The 'Abbasids took their name from an uncle of the Prophet Muhammad, al-'Abbas, whose descendants formed one of several groups agitating for change under the Umayyad dynasty. The Umayyad enforcement of a brand of Arab chauvinism, wherein non-Arab Muslims were relegated to a lower status, led to a revolution in which the 'Abbasids claimed the Caliphate and enforced a more universal community of believers. This was symbolized by their movement of the caliphal capital from Damascus to Baghdad, an area closer to the geographic centre of the empire and nearer the Persian hinterland. Under their rule, Islamic culture flourished, new heights in philosophy and science were attained, and the period was widely seen as the “golden age” of the Islamic world. During that time, however, the Caliphate's authority slowly began to erode as regional power centres developed throughout the empire. Although central authority was intermittently reasserted by strong-willed caliphs, by the 13th century 'Abbasid authority was largely spiritual. The last 'Abbasid caliph was executed by Mongol invaders, but a shadow Caliphate (of dubious authenticity) continued into the early 20th century. See also Abu Muslim.

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More on "Abbasid dynasty" from the 32 Volume Encyclopædia Britannica:

'Abbasid - second of the two great dynasties of the Muslim Empire of the Caliphate. It overthrew the Umayyad caliphate in AD 750 and reigned as the 'Abbasid caliphate until destroyed by the Mongol invasion in 1258.

Umayyad - first great Muslim dynasty to rule the Empire of the Caliphate (AD 661-750), sometimes referred to as the Arab kingdom (reflecting traditional Muslim disapproval of the secular nature of the Umayyad state). The Umayyads, headed by Abu Sufyan, were a largely merchant family of the Quraysh tribe centred at Mecca. They had initially resisted Islam, not converting until 627, but subsequently became ...

Tahirid - (AD 821-873), Islamic dynasty of the land of Khorasan (centred in northeastern Persia), which owed nominal allegiance to the 'Abbasid caliph at Baghdad but enjoyed virtual independence. The dynasty was founded by Tahir ibn al-Husayn, a successful military general awarded the eastern lands by the caliph. Tahir's successors pushed their dominion as far as the Indian frontier.

Ziyadid - Muslim dynasty that ruled Yemen in the period 819-1018 from its capital at Zabid.

Bagratid - princely and royal dynasty founded in Armenia and Georgia during the 9th century by the Bagratuni family. The Bagratid kings kept Armenia independent of both the Byzantine Empire and the 'Abbasid Caliphate.

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