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Year 7 - History

Baghdad in the 11th century

11th-century Islamic worlds: how similar were the regions of the Islamic world?

Unit Summary

In this unit, pupils develop their knowledge and understanding of the Islamic world in the 11th century. Pupils study three connected, but contrasting, centres of Islamic civilisation: Baghdad, Cordoba and Sicily.

Lesson Summary

You will learn to describe Baghdad in the 11th century and its connections to the wider Islamic world.

Key Notes

  • Baghdad was in decline by the 11th century.
  • The Abbasids remained the nominal rulers of much of the Middle East.
  • Power over government really lay with groups like the Seljuks.
  • The Islamic world was more fragmented that it superficially appeared.

Vocabulary To Learn

  • Abbasid: an Abbasid is a member of the third dynasty of caliphs that ruled the Islamic Empire after Muhammad (PBUH)
  • caliphate: a caliphate is an Islamic state, especially one ruled by a single religious and political leader
  • extent: the size of something can be described as its extent
  • caliph: a caliph is a political and religious leader of Muslim communities
  • Seljuks: the Seljuks were a Muslim group from Central Asia

Common Mistakes To Avoid

  • Because the Abbasid Caliphate was large, the caliphs must have retained a lot of power.

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

1. Summarise this historical learning in two key ideas.

Baghdad was in decline by the 11th century. The Abbasids remained the nominal rulers of much of the Middle East.

2. Define this history term and explain why it matters in this topic. 'Abbasid'

an Abbasid is a member of the third dynasty of caliphs that ruled the Islamic Empire after Muhammad (PBUH).

3. Correct this common history misconception using evidence language.

Mistake: Because the Abbasid Caliphate was large, the caliphs must have retained a lot of power. Correction: Remind pupils that the caliphs had little effective power beyond Baghdad itself by the 11th century and the Seljuks became de facto rulers.

More Lessons In This Unit

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