Rise and Spread of Islam

• Abbasid dynasty- Built Baghdad as a power of power and wealth, fall of this civilization was marked as the end of Arab domination with the muslims
• Because of Baghdad, Islams "center of gravity" was shifted to Iraq
• The Abbasid caliphs were greater in size than the Roman Empire
• Baghdad enjoyed much prosperity due to the close contact with 3 countries
• Baghdad was in constant contention for the "most flourishing city in the world"