Definition: The Abbasid Dynasty ruled the Arab world between 758-1258 AD, and so is considered the medieval period for Islamic civilization. Their ascendancy moved the power focus of the Arabic world from a Semitic world in Arabia and Syria with a capital in Damascus, to the Iranian or Persian world in Iraq, with the new capital in Baghdad.
Sources
Insoll, Timothy. 2003. Archaeology of Islam in Sub-Saharan Africa. Cambridge World Archaeology, Cambridge University, Cambridge.
Meloy, John L. 1996. Islamic Civilization. pp. 355-357 in The Oxford Companion to Archaeology, edited by Brian Fagan. Oxford University Press, Oxford.
This glossary entry is part of the Dictionary of Archaeology. Any mistakes are the responsibility of Kris Hirst.
Alternate Spellings: 'Abassid
