When Baghdad Ruled the Muslim World: The Rise and Fall of Islam's Greatest Dynasty

From Publishers Weekly
Starred Review. These days Baghdad is associated with violence and insurgency. But more than a thousand years ago, during the Abbasid caliphate, Baghdad was a center of the arts and sciences, a city of dreams and limitless opportunities. This eminently entertaining book by respected British historian Kennedy focuses on these glory days of Baghdad in the eighth and ninth centuries, and the city's eventual downfall. Firmly grounded in the original Arabic literary sources of the era, Kennedy (Mongols, Huns and Vikings) emphasizes the amazing personalities of the period, such as Caliph Harun al-Rashid (mythologized in TheArabian Nights) and his powerful queen Zubayda. Kennedy's account is not a dry political chronicle but rather full of stories of love, sex, power, corruption, sibling rivalry and political intrigue—for which he makes no apology. Kennedy does a superb job resurrecting the human dimension of the period, as in apt descriptions of life in Harun al-Rashid's harem or the various caliphs' decisions whether or not to wage war. He also provides a sophisticated account of the general cultural and political climate based on recent scholarship. Combining academic rigor and accessibility, this is compelling reading for anyone concerned with the perils of power, the medieval Islamic legacy and the images that Baghdad continues to conjure in the modern imagination. 24 pages of illus., 3 maps. (June) Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Kirkus Reviews 4/1/05
"A lively study...Nicely written, accessible history, rich in detail and most timely."

USA Today 4/5/05
"Rich in technical detail, yet remains accessible to the casual cycling fan."

Book Description
A "remarkable narrative history" (London Times) of the dynasty that ruled from Baghdad during Islam's greatest era The "golden age of Islam" in the eighth and ninth centuries was as significant to world history as the Roman Empire was in the first and second centuries. Islamic culture and enterprise stretched from Tunisia to India; its legacy influenced politics and society for years to come. From the founding of the city of Baghdad in A.D. 762 to the end of the ninth century, the rule of the Abbasid dynasty was the zenith of Islamic conquest and influence. The caliphs of Baghdad formed the model for succeeding Muslim regimes, from military conquests to court-sponsored poetry and literature, from building palaces to establishing court bureaucracies. Yet the true story of this fascinating empire has rarely been told outside the academic world. In this deftly woven narrative, Hugh Kennedy introduces us to the rich history and flourishing culture of the period and to the men and women of the palaces at Baghdad and Samarra- the caliphs, viziers, eunuchs, and women of the harem who fashioned the glorious days of the Arabian Nights. It is an epic story in every sense, with larger-than-life rulers, exotic slave girls, inventive tortures, and enough court intrigue to frighten a Borgia.

About the Author
Hugh Kennedy is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh and Professor of Middle Eastern History at the University of St. Andrews. He is the author of the acclaimed Mongols, Huns and Vikings.


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In this beautifully written and definitive history of Baghdad, Kennedy (Middle Eastern history, Univ. of St. Andrews, Scotland) weaves a luminous narrative rich in detail, opening the doors to the old city and letting its secrets spill out. Relying on a variety of literary sources, he introduces Baghdad during the 750-1258 rule of the Abbasid dynasty, when it was the center of a vast Islamic empire that stretched from Morocco to Central Asia and its cultural influence reached far beyond its borders. The reader will see glorious Baghdad through its flourishing schools of thought, advanced administrative system, prolific Greek-to-Arabic translation movement, erotic stories, and the behind-the-curtain lives of the people of the palace. Kennedy tells the story of a city built on blood and poetry, with poetry emerging victorious in its streets. The general reader will find this history accessible and informative. Recommended for public and academic libraries.-Sadiq Alkoriji, Tomball Coll. & Community Lib., Harris Cty., TX Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.


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