A great quick description of just how important Baghdad was to the “Middle East” for hundreds of years.
The destruction of it by the Mongols arguably might have set that entire region back hundreds of years – the ultimate example of systematic “oppression” of a culture and a people.
The Islamic world tends to externalise its problems. Why has it achieved nothing of note in the past 500 years? Because it abandoned its earlier policy of questioning everything. When you stop asking questions, you stop learning. As a result the Islamic world stagnated then regressed as authoritarian rulers realised an ignorant populace was easier to control. The Christian West, seeing Islam had dropped the ball, picked it up and ran with it. Today’s Islamists can’t accept that all this was due to errors by Muslim theologians. Much easier to blame an unholy alliance of “Crusaders” and Jews.
You must be referring to Al-Ghazali of Tus. He who wrote” The Incoherence of the Philosophers”, whist reaching at Al-Nizamiyya in Bagdad in the 1090’s?
This work basically told Islam to stop thinking, (if it wasn’t in the Koran it was irrelevant).
Although challenged by Averroes in the following century, ultimately it was to no avail.
Thank you. There were, off course, countless others who, like you, I cannot recall!
David Bottomley
3 years ago
Very interesting and illuminating. It happens to all ‘great or dominant ‘ ‘civilisations’ in their various forms – Greek, Rome , Aztec, Khmer etc , and will no doubt happen to the West in its various forms as they collapse and turn in upon themselves
zmadhloom
3 years ago
Thank you for this article, but these great and wonderful things have remained in the past. We are in the present, as Baghdad is the worst city to live. We live in very difficult conditions because cutting of the electricity, water. and weather temperature that reach 123F and the lack of job opportunities. I mean we want to build our country but the government Corruption stands in the our way of how we can build our country without jobs
I’m so sorry to hear that. I wish you and everyone else in your country well. Things can change.
Mark Corby
3 years ago
A intriguing paean to the transient glory of Bagdad, of which virtually nothing remains, despite its comparatively recent foundation.
However its place in Islamic history, particularly cultural, was well emphasised. In fact more than any other great Islamic city it could be described as Islam’s answer to Athens or Rome.
I was surprised that there was no mention of recent bombing of the place in the “Shock and Awe” campaign of April, 2003. Granted it was not as devastating as Hulagu and his Mongol thugs, but it certainly upset many in the Islamic world.
Baghdad today is not Baghdad yesterday .. It was a great cultural edifice that was destroyed by the Mongols and the wars that followed that era. I visited Baghdad a few months ago, it still maintains the ancient culture. There are many cultural places such as Al-Mutanabi Street. Baghdad also contains the city of Al-Mansur, that very beautiful city, whose construction dates back to the era of Caliph Abu Jaafar Al-Mansur … Previously I read one of the accounts that tells us that the thinker or doctor of that era If he had not visited Baghdad, his knowledge was incomplete, through this theory or saying, we conclude mentally how the science was there .. Finally, many thanks to the interviewer, who contains many wonderful information about Baghdad
alnj3214
3 years ago
Baghdad, history, Baghdad, life, Baghdad, freedom, Baghdad, everything. Now that you are stained with blood in its streets, Iraq is in pain in these years. You should look at the news and see the state of Baghdad today.💔
gvvgel66
3 years ago
Baghdad has an opera? It has everything, what is more in Paris? Tigris, a million palm trees, and my mother.
rusol_alkhafaji22
3 years ago
Thanks for sharing this, god bless Baghdad
akthamhasan
3 years ago
Baghdad were the cradle of modern civilizations culture will raise again.
Dan Poynton
3 years ago
O for a second Islamic Enlightenment such as with the wondrous Baghdad! Our Muslim friends surely need it. And Europe will surely need it if its presently predicted demographic destiny unfolds……..
Perhaps a lesson for modern Britain, if you forget defence you get invaded and your capital is destroyed.
Too late
A great quick description of just how important Baghdad was to the “Middle East” for hundreds of years.
The destruction of it by the Mongols arguably might have set that entire region back hundreds of years – the ultimate example of systematic “oppression” of a culture and a people.
While the invasion was a disaster, the Middle east had c700 years to get back on its feet.
Blaming the mongols for the current situation is absurd.
The Islamic world tends to externalise its problems. Why has it achieved nothing of note in the past 500 years? Because it abandoned its earlier policy of questioning everything. When you stop asking questions, you stop learning. As a result the Islamic world stagnated then regressed as authoritarian rulers realised an ignorant populace was easier to control. The Christian West, seeing Islam had dropped the ball, picked it up and ran with it. Today’s Islamists can’t accept that all this was due to errors by Muslim theologians. Much easier to blame an unholy alliance of “Crusaders” and Jews.
You must be referring to Al-Ghazali of Tus. He who wrote” The Incoherence of the Philosophers”, whist reaching at Al-Nizamiyya in Bagdad in the 1090’s?
This work basically told Islam to stop thinking, (if it wasn’t in the Koran it was irrelevant).
Although challenged by Averroes in the following century, ultimately it was to no avail.
Thank you for clarifying that – I couldn’t for the life of me remember his name.
Thank you. There were, off course, countless others who, like you, I cannot recall!
Very interesting and illuminating. It happens to all ‘great or dominant ‘ ‘civilisations’ in their various forms – Greek, Rome , Aztec, Khmer etc , and will no doubt happen to the West in its various forms as they collapse and turn in upon themselves
Thank you for this article, but these great and wonderful things have remained in the past. We are in the present, as Baghdad is the worst city to live. We live in very difficult conditions because cutting of the electricity, water. and weather temperature that reach 123F and the lack of job opportunities. I mean we want to build our country but the government Corruption stands in the our way of how we can build our country without jobs
Simple, restore the British Empire.
The Irish, Indians, Kenyans and many others might have something to say about that.
Yes, it is quite extraordinary how ungrateful some people can be, don’t you think?
I know, I’m German.
Bad luck!
I’m so sorry to hear that. I wish you and everyone else in your country well. Things can change.
A intriguing paean to the transient glory of Bagdad, of which virtually nothing remains, despite its comparatively recent foundation.
However its place in Islamic history, particularly cultural, was well emphasised. In fact more than any other great Islamic city it could be described as Islam’s answer to Athens or Rome.
I was surprised that there was no mention of recent bombing of the place in the “Shock and Awe” campaign of April, 2003. Granted it was not as devastating as Hulagu and his Mongol thugs, but it certainly upset many in the Islamic world.
You should read the UN Report (by the Arabs for the Arabs) published between 2002-2008 about human development in the region.
I will, thank you.
Baghdad today is not Baghdad yesterday .. It was a great cultural edifice that was destroyed by the Mongols and the wars that followed that era. I visited Baghdad a few months ago, it still maintains the ancient culture. There are many cultural places such as Al-Mutanabi Street. Baghdad also contains the city of Al-Mansur, that very beautiful city, whose construction dates back to the era of Caliph Abu Jaafar Al-Mansur … Previously I read one of the accounts that tells us that the thinker or doctor of that era If he had not visited Baghdad, his knowledge was incomplete, through this theory or saying, we conclude mentally how the science was there .. Finally, many thanks to the interviewer, who contains many wonderful information about Baghdad
Baghdad, history, Baghdad, life, Baghdad, freedom, Baghdad, everything. Now that you are stained with blood in its streets, Iraq is in pain in these years. You should look at the news and see the state of Baghdad today.💔
Baghdad has an opera? It has everything, what is more in Paris? Tigris, a million palm trees, and my mother.
Thanks for sharing this, god bless Baghdad
Baghdad were the cradle of modern civilizations culture will raise again.
O for a second Islamic Enlightenment such as with the wondrous Baghdad! Our Muslim friends surely need it. And Europe will surely need it if its presently predicted demographic destiny unfolds……..