Lesson video

Hello, I am Ms. Krijnauw, and welcome to this learning adventure where we are finding out more about the early Islamic civilization, and what's connected Baghdad to the wider world.

In this lesson, we are going to travel back in time to learn about a fascinating city that played a very important role in the mediaeval world.

Imagine a city where the streets were filled with merchants selling spices, silks, and precious gems, where you could listen to scholars discussing new ideas, and where artists created beautiful geometric patterned artworks.

That was Baghdad.

A long time ago, Baghdad was one of the most important cities in the world.

It was a place where people from different countries came to share their ideas, to trade goods, and to learn from each other.

In this lesson, we're going to explore how Baghdad was connected to the rest of the mediaeval world and why it was such an exciting place.

By the end of this lesson, you'll be able to describe the different ways in which Baghdad was connected to the wider mediaeval world, and it is my job to support you with the learning materials and resources, so that by the end of the lesson, you can attain the learning outcome.

There are some key words that you will encounter in this lesson.

They are mediaeval, which refers to the Middle Ages, a period in history that lasted from about 500 to 1500 CE.

Sponsorship is when someone supports an event, activity, or person, usually by giving money.

Another keyword you'll encounter is classical, which refers to knowledge, ideas, art, literature, and cultural achievements from ancient Greece and Rome.

Engineering is the use of science and maths to solve problems and build things.

This lesson about Baghdad's connection to the mediaeval world has three learning cycles.

The first one is entitled Trade Connections.

In this lesson, we are exploring Baghdad during the mediaeval age.

The term mediaeval refers to the Middle Ages, a period in history that lasted from about 500 CE to 1500 CE.

Baghdad was founded during the mediaeval period in the year 762 CE, and soon played a very important role in the mediaeval world.

During the Abbasid Caliphate, Baghdad became a thriving city that connected the East and West.

It was a place where people from Europe, as far as places like India and China, came together to trade and exchange ideas, inventions, and cultures.

Let's see what we can remember about what we've just learned.

Which of the following time periods would be considered mediaeval? Is it A, 1500 to 500 BCE, 500 to 1500 CE, or 500 BCE to 500CE? Did you say the answer is B, 500 to 1500 CE? If you did, well done, you are correct.

Baghdad was built along the Tigris River in what is now Iraq.

This river made it a perfect place for trade, because people could travel easily by boat to and from the city.

At that time, it must have felt as though Baghdad was the centre of the world.

Because it was so strategically located, Baghdad became a crucial link in the Silk Road, which was the ancient trade routes that connected the East and the West.

The Silk Road was not an actual road nor a single route, but a network of route that crisscrossed and snaked between Europe and China.

Merchants and traders passed through Baghdad as they carried goods to buy and sell on the Silk Road, connecting it, and the wider Islamic world, to Asia and Europe.

But it wasn't only traders and merchants who used the Silk Road.

Other people, such as scholars who wanted to learn new things, and artists who wanted to learn new techniques and find new materials for their art, also travelled on the Silk Road.

These people shared stories, scientific knowledge, technological innovations, and cultural practises from different parts of the world.

The Abbasid Caliphate, which established Baghdad as its capital in the mediaeval period, became wealthy because of the trade routes of the Silk Road.

Baghdad's location allowed the Abbasids to control the trade passing through their territories.

They collected taxes and fees from merchants who wanted to travel through their lands.

As merchants journeyed along the Silk Road, they had to pay money at different places to be allowed to pass through.

This money, known as tax, helped to bring wealth to the Abbasid Caliphate.

By charging traders and merchants money to use the trade routes, the Abbasids made sure that the roots were safe for merchants and caravans.

Sometimes robbers would attack caravans to steal their goods, and of course, if the merchants felt safe to use the Silk Road in the Abbasid lands, they would feel more confident to trade in Baghdad, which in turn brought more business and money to the Abbasid government.

The Abbasids also built on their wealth by engaging in a wide range of trade activities, beyond just taxing goods passing through their territories.

For example, they actively participated in the trade of luxury goods such as silk, spices, porcelain, and precious metals, thereby bringing in even more to the Abbasid Caliphate, and making the city of Baghdad even richer.

Let's consolidate what we have just learned.

Which of the following students is explaining how the Abbasid Caliphate became wealthy through taxes? Aisha says, "Merchants had to pay the caliph money to use the trade routes that passed through the Abbasid Caliphate." B, Sophia says, "Merchants on the Silk Road were forced to pass through Baghdad to trade with people." And C, Jacob says, "The caliphs paid merchants to travel through the Abbasid Caliphate." And the student who is correct is A, Aisha.

Well done if you also got that correct.

The first learning task of this lesson has two parts.

It says, tick the correct column to state whether the following sentences are true or false.

Baghdad linked to Europe to China on the Silk Road.

In mediaeval times, Baghdad was poor.

The caliphs allowed merchants who wanted to pass through Abbasid lands to travel freely without paying.

They built on their wealth by trading in luxury goods.

Let's find out what the correct answers are.

Baghdad linked Europe to China on the Silk Road.

That statement is true.

In mediaeval times, Baghdad was poor.

That statement is false.

The caliphs allowed merchants who wanted to pass through Abbasid lands to travel freely without paying.

That statement is false.

They built on their wealth by trading and luxury goods.

That statement is true.

Well done.

The second part of this learning task says correct the false statements.

Now, the false statements were, "In mediaeval times, Baghdad was poor," and, "The caliphs allowed merchants who wanted to pass through their lands to travel freely without paying." Pause the video here, and once you have corrected those statements, press play to check your answers.

And the corrected statements are in mediaeval times, Baghdad became wealthy because of the trade routes of the Silk Road, and the caliphs imposed taxes on merchants who wanted to travel through Abbasid Lands.

Good work.

The second learning cycle of this lesson is entitled Connection to Classical Knowledge.

The wealth of the Abbasids went beyond just riches.

It included knowledge and education, both of which were greatly valued.

They were particularly fascinated by the classical knowledge of the ancient civilizations like Greeks, Romans, and Persians.

These ancient cultures had made incredible discoveries in areas like architecture, maths, and science, and the Abbasids were eager to learn as much as they could.

To achieve this, the Abbasids caliphs extended sponsorships to scholars, inviting them to Baghdad to translate classical texts from languages like Greek, Latin, and Persian into Arabic.

This meant that the caliphs paid scholars from different parts of the world to go to the House of Wisdom to translate important academic works.

Let's check for understanding.

Complete the following sentences correctly using the same keyword.

The Abbasids valued that hmm knowledge of ancient civilizations like the Greeks, Romans, and Persians.

That is why they invited scholars from Baghdad to translate hmm texts from languages like Greek, Latin, and Persian into Arabic.

Did you work out what that correct keyword is? Did you think it was classical? If you did, you are absolutely correct.

Well done.

Is the following statement true or false? The Abbasids caliphs offered sponsorships to scholars.

That's statement is true.

Let's justify why we say it's true.

In other words, let's give a reason why we say it's true.

Is it A, the caliphs paid people to come to Baghdad to translate classical texts to Arabic, or B, they forced people to come to Baghdad to translate classical texts to Arabic? The answer is A, they paid people to come to Baghdad to translate classical texts to Arabic.

Good work.

But why did the Abbasids caliphs offer sponsorships to scholars to translate classical texts? It was so that the knowledge stored in the ancient and classical texts could be preserved and shared with scholars all across the Islamic world.

Scholars could now read and understand works of classical philosophy, math, science, and much more.

It opened up pathways for learning and discovery.

As the translated works circulated throughout the Islamic world, they also found their way to Western Europe during the mediaeval period.

The texts were eventually translated from Arabic to Latin.

The classical ideas and discoveries contained in the translated texts helped spark new thinking and learning in Europe, laying the groundwork for what would later be known as a period in history called the the Renaissance.

Let's consolidate what we have just learned.

The statements below are all incorrect.

Identify the one mistake in each statement and correct it.

The Abbasids valued the modern knowledge of the Greeks, Romans, and Persians.

In Baghdad, the Abbasids caliphs banned scholars who could translate texts to Arabic.

This meant that the knowledge stored in these ancient texts was lost.

Pause the video here, and when you are ready for the correct answers, press play.

The corrected statements are as followed.

The Abbasids valued the classical knowledge, not modern knowledge, of the Greeks, Romans, and Persians.

In Baghdad, the Abbasids caliphs invited, not banned, scholars who could translate texts to Arabic.

This meant that the knowledge stored in these ancient texts was preserved, not lost.

Well done if you identify the mistakes and managed to correct them.

The second learning task of this lesson says, "Do you agree with Sam's statement below? Explain." The Caleb's sponsorship of the sciences and the arts meant that classical knowledge was brought into and sent out of Baghdad.

Pause the video here, and when you are ready for the answer, press play.

Here is an example of an answer that you could have given.

I agree with Sam.

Classical knowledge was brought to Baghdad when the caliphs sponsored scholars from around the world to come to Baghdad to translate classical texts.

The translated works were circulated out of Baghdad and found their way to Europe during the mediaeval period, where it helped spark new thinking and learning.

Well done if your answer was similar to this one.

The third learning cycle of this lesson is entitled Centre of Learning and Discovery.

The House of Wisdom in Baghdad symbolised the Abbasid commitment to learning and discovery.

It buzzed with activity, drawing scholars, scientists, and thinkers from far and wide.

Within the walls of the House of Wisdom, scholars translated classical texts from Greek, Persian, Indian, and other civilizations into Arabic.

The translated texts covered a wide range of subjects, including philosophy, maths, astronomy, medicine, and engineering.

The House of Wisdom thus became a treasure trove of knowledge, preserving and spreading the wisdom of ancient civilizations, while also sparking new ideas.

Let's check for understanding.

Which of the statements below justifies Izzy's opinion? Izzy says, "The House of Wisdom in Baghdad symbolised the Abbasid commitment to learning and discovery." A, it was a place where scholars translated texts and where scientific discoveries were made.

B, it was a place where people relaxed and played games.

The answer is A, the House of Wisdom was a place where scholars translated texts and made scientific discoveries.

Good work.

In Baghdad's universities, students played a key role in pushing forward people's understanding of science and technology.

The universities offered world-class education and training in various subjects, and they attracted learners from all over the Islamic world and beyond.

Teachers and students dived into research and they conducted experiments to put scientific theories into practise.

This led to discoveries in fields like mathematics, optics, medicine, and architecture.

For example, advancements in maths were applied to architectural design, resulting in the construction of magnificent buildings that showcased Baghdad's incredible engineering skills.

Let's check for understanding.

Which of the following is a definition of engineering.

Is it A, the use of maths and science to discover new stars, B, the use of science and maths to solve problems and build things, C, the use of colour and shapes to create beautiful pictures, D, the use of rhythm to create music? The answer is B, engineering is the use of science and maths to solve problems and build things.

Well done.

The third learning task of this lesson says, explain how Baghdad was connected to the wider mediaeval world.

Use the following words and phrases in your answer: trade, wealth, sponsorship, classical knowledge, centre of scientific and engineering discovery.

Pause the video here, and when you are ready to reflect on the answer, press play.

Here is an example of an answer that you could have given.

In the mediaeval period, Baghdad was connected to both Asia and Europe by trade, communication, and ideas.

The Abbasid used the wealth that they made from taxing trade routes to promote education and knowledge.

They established the House of Wisdom, where scholars were offered sponsorships to translate and preserve classical texts.

Baghdad's, House of Wisdom and its universities were world-class and made Baghdad a centre of scientific and engineering discovery.

Well done if your answer looked similar to this, and an extra well done if you use the words in blue as well.

We have now come to the end of this lesson about Baghdad's connection to the mediaeval world, but before we go, let's summarise what we have learned.

Baghdad played a crucial role in the mediaeval world.

It was a hub for trade, communication, and cultural exchange.

The wealth generated from controlling and taxing trade routes allowed the Abbasid to promote education and knowledge.

They established the House of Wisdom, where scholars were offered sponsorships to translate and preserve classical texts.

This scholarly activity not only advanced various fields in the Islamic world, but also sparked new thinking and learning in Europe.

Well done for working so hard, and I've really enjoyed travelling back in time with you to learn about Baghdad and the early Islamic civilization.