Baghdad

Baghdad is a large city in present-day Iraq. It lies along the Tigris River, which provided water, transport, and farmland. The city has been a center of political and cultural life in the Middle East for more than a thousand years. At different times, Baghdad served as a capital city, a trading hub, and a place of learning.

Baghdad was founded in 762 CE by the Abbasid caliph Al-Mansur. A caliph was a political and religious leader of an Islamic state. Al-Mansur chose the site because it was near major trade routes. The new city was built in a circular plan and was first called Madinat al-Salam, meaning "City of Peace." It soon became the capital of the Abbasid Caliphate, one of the largest Islamic empires of its time.

During the 800s and 900s, Baghdad reached great size and population. It became one of the largest cities in the world. Merchants brought goods such as silk, spices, paper, and metals from distant regions. The city connected trade routes from Asia, Africa, and Europe. Markets, bridges, and canals supported daily life and movement across the city.

Baghdad was also known as a center of learning. Scholars studied subjects such as mathematics, medicine, astronomy, and history. One important institution was the House of Wisdom, where texts were collected and translated. Translation means changing text from one language to another. Works from Greek, Persian, and Indian sources were translated into Arabic, allowing knowledge to spread across the Islamic world.

The city faced periods of conflict and damage. In 1258, Baghdad was captured by the Mongols, led by Hulagu Khan. Many buildings were destroyed, and the Abbasid Caliphate in Baghdad came to an end. Although the city later recovered in part, it did not return to its earlier position as the main center of the Islamic world.

In later centuries, Baghdad was ruled by different empires, including the Ottoman Empire. In the 20th century, it became the capital of the modern country of Iraq. Today, Baghdad remains an important city with a long and complex history. Its past as a center of empire, trade, and learning continues to shape its identity.