They ruled for 500 years and led the Islamic world into a golden age. Then in a single siege, Baghdad was reduced to ruins ...

Iraq was once the center of the Abbasid Caliphate and a hub of knowledge until the 15th century. It flourished in trade, ...

The Abbasid caliphs employed a group of people known as 'nudema' - these were professional cup companions, their job was to sit with the caliph as he ate and drank, and entertain him with edifying ...

Inside the Abbasid palace of Baghdad, built in around 12th century. The caliphates (Islamic states) were governed by a caliph. They were the successors to Muhammad. The first major caliphate was ...