New
New
Year 7

Baghdad in the 11th century

I can describe Baghdad in the 11th century and its connections to the wider Islamic world.

New
New
Year 7

Baghdad in the 11th century

I can describe Baghdad in the 11th century and its connections to the wider Islamic world.

Lesson details

Key learning points

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

Keywords

  • 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 misconception

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

Remind pupils that the caliphs had little effective power beyond Baghdad itself by the 11th century and the Seljuks became de facto rulers.

Begin learning cycle 3 by focusing on the map of the Abbasid Caliphate. Highlight the position of Baghdad and ask why it might be difficult for the caliphs to keep control over all of the land which was a part of the Caliphate.
Teacher tip

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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6 Questions

Q1.
What type of people made up the majority of the population in the Islamic world?
Christians
Jews
Correct answer: Muslims
Sikhs
Q2.
Most people in medieval Europe were part of the religion.
Correct Answer: Christian, christian
Q3.
Which religion had a 'golden age' from the 8th century until the 13th century?
Christianity
Correct answer: Islam
Judaism
Sikhism
Q4.
Who was the head of Christianity in medieval western Europe?
the King
the Emperor
Correct answer: the Pope
Q5.
Starting with the earliest, sort the years into chronological order.
1 - 680 BCE
2 - 213 BCE
3 - 18 BCE
4 - 104 CE
5 - 553 CE
6 - 1065 CE
Q6.
Starting with the earliest, sort the years into chronological order.
1 - Roman Empire set up
2 - Islam set up
3 - Vikings arrive in Britain
4 - World War One

6 Questions

Q1.
Match up each keyword with the correct definition.
Correct Answer:caliphate,an Islamic state

an Islamic state

Correct Answer:Seljuks,a Muslim group from Central Asia

a Muslim group from Central Asia

Correct Answer:caliph,a political and religious leader of Muslim communities

a political and religious leader of Muslim communities

Q2.
What were Abbasid leaders known as?
Correct answer: caliphs
emperors
kings
popes
Q3.
Which three areas were part of the Abbasid Caliphate?
Correct answer: Central Asia
Eastern Europe
Correct answer: Middle East
Correct answer: North Africa
North America
Q4.
What was set up in Baghdad in 1065?
Abbasid Caliphate
Correct answer: Al-Nizamiyya of Baghdad
House of Wisdom
Q5.
Write the missing word. The Abbasid caliph was only able to regain control over Baghdad in 1057 with the help of the ...
Correct Answer: Seljuks, Seljuk Turks, seljuks, seljuk turks
Q6.
Which statement about local governors in the Abbasid Caliphate during the 11th century is most accurate?
many local governors remained completely loyal to the caliph
Correct answer: many local governors showed less loyalty to the caliph
many local governors completely refused to show loyalty to the caliph

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