Study Guides

Unit Summary

In this unit, pupils analyse the connections that 9th-century Islamic civilisation had to the wider world. They learn about its connections to the East and West and the importance of Baghdad as a centre of learning and knowledge.

Lesson Summary

You will learn to describe how Baghdad was connected to the West.

Key Notes

• One reason Al-Mansur planned Baghdad as a circle was his love of the Ancient Greek science of mathematics.
• In the House of Wisdom, scholars translated Euclid's book 'The Elements' and copies spread this knowledge in Europe.
• In the late 8th century CE the Anglo Saxon King of Mercia, Offa either had a gold coin made, or it was made for him.
• The coin, complete with Arabic script, is a copy of the golden dinars produced by Al Mansur, Offa's contemporary.
• It shows how important the golden dinar had become in the Mediterranean world due to the Abbasid domination of trade.

Vocabulary To Learn

• House of Wisdom: the House of Wisdom was a library and place of learning in Baghdad during the Islamic Golden Age
• Euclid: Euclid was an ancient Greek mathematician, who lived around 300 BCE, and is often referred to as the 'father of geometry'
• geometry: geometry is an area of mathematics that explores the shape, size, angles and positions of objects
• dinar: the dinar is the name of the money unit that was used in Baghdad

Common Mistakes To Avoid

• Al-Mansur planned Baghdad as a circle solely because of his love for the Ancient Greek science of mathematics.

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

More Lessons In This Unit

• Baghdad and Cordoba Study Guide
• Baghdad and the spread of ideas Study Guide
• Baghdad's connection to the medieval world Study Guide
• Baghdad's connections to the East Study Guide
• Europe, the Mediterranean and Asia in the early 9th century world Study Guide