--- product_id: 698402783 title: "When Baghdad Ruled the Muslim World: The Rise and Fall of Islam's Greatest Dynasty" price: "212.96 DT" currency: TND in_stock: true reviews_count: 8 url: https://www.desertcart.tn/products/698402783-when-baghdad-ruled-the-muslim-world-the-rise-and-fall store_origin: TN region: Tunisia --- # When Baghdad Ruled the Muslim World: The Rise and Fall of Islam's Greatest Dynasty **Price:** 212.96 DT **Availability:** ✅ In Stock ## Quick Answers - **What is this?** When Baghdad Ruled the Muslim World: The Rise and Fall of Islam's Greatest Dynasty - **How much does it cost?** 212.96 DT with free shipping - **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship - **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.tn](https://www.desertcart.tn/products/698402783-when-baghdad-ruled-the-muslim-world-the-rise-and-fall) ## Best For - Customers looking for quality international products ## Why This Product - Free international shipping included - Worldwide delivery with tracking - 15-day hassle-free returns ## Description Buy When Baghdad Ruled the Muslim World: The Rise and Fall of Islam's Greatest Dynasty Edition Unstated by Kennedy, Hugh (ISBN: 9780306814808) from desertcart's Book Store. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Review: Almost a page-turner! - Amazingly detailed account of events taking place more than 1200 years ago. Very colorful and in some places even a page-turner. The author is very good at noting where the sources are conflicting or may not be trusted. Review: splendid stories, but big gaps in historical analysis - This book is a fun read that is well written and designed for the interested layman. It never gets bogged down in academic controversies and finds the fun in the blood, sex, and civilization of a truly unique empire. Unfortunately, there were many historical details, however academic this might sound, that I was hungry to learn about and felt continually disappointed at their light treatment, i.e. how Islam was instituted in the occupied countries (or why it succeeded in taking such firm root), what the sources of Arab power were (faith, organization, economics or some combination thereof?), and why the Abbasids produced some of the greatest cultural works that humanity has ever known? While Kennedy makes it clear that he intended to tell interesting stories, I really wanted much more than he provided. As such, it is good popular history, but not dense enough for my taste. The Abbasids took power in a revolution from the Ummayads, who were a group from the prophet Mohammed's tribe but not part of his larger family (the Abbasids were cousins of the Prophet). While we get a lot about the intrigues and military aspects, all anecdotal, there is very little about the religious side of the conflict, particularly in tribal context. The Sunnis and Shiites were not yet quite formed, crucial religious history that I wanted to better understand. Then, the Persians were included as vital allies, at the time of their conversion to Islam, also barely covered in the book. This was thus a badly incomplete picture. It is not even clear why the revolution took hold, beyond bare facts like the Ummayads were unpopular due to their Syrian base. Once power was consolidated, there were some very interesting personalities, such as the shrewd and ruthless Mansur, who established the state's ruling structure with persian viziers and professional army. He is an austere and fascinating figure. Then there is Herun, the ruler in 1000 Arabian Nights, who exemplifies the golden age, though sowed the seeds of civil war that was to lead to the dynasty's downfall 100 years later. They created the Harem and countless other forms that set the standard for all later Islamic regimes, which never equalled their splendor or cultural sophistication and openness. There was even a period of inquiry into the Koran as an historical document, as Greek philosophical influence grew for a brief period. Once again, fun stories, but little hard fact about how the empire was run, why it reached a certain size, why it suddenly became religiously conservative and choked off the development of practical scientific enquiry, and what the foundations of power were. In other words, I wanted more geo-political and social analyses. The fall of the Abbasids came with their inability to provide orderly successions as well as their dependence on Turkish mercenaries. As chaos rose, the provinces rebelled and even the maintenance of the waterways that had made mesopotamia a breadbasket to unique civilizations for 3000 years were allowed to fall into ruin, never again to be revived. Not only was this the passing of Arabs as a global power, but the end of a united Islam, as the Sunni-Shiite split hardened into separate sects and innumerable regional principates arose. Alas, these details are neglected in favor of personal tales of decapitations, torture, and corruption and betrayal - fun stories, but just a surface gloss. Recommended. It is a good starting point, but less than half the history. ## Technical Specifications | Specification | Value | |---------------|-------| | Best Sellers Rank | 930,896 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) 1,502 in Religious History of Islam 18,663 in World History (Books) | | Customer reviews | 4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars (51) | | Dimensions | 15.24 x 2.41 x 22.86 cm | | Edition | Edition Unstated | | ISBN-10 | 0306814803 | | ISBN-13 | 978-0306814808 | | Item weight | 499 g | | Language | English | | Print length | 376 pages | | Publication date | 14 Mar. 2006 | | Publisher | Da Capo Press | ## Images ![When Baghdad Ruled the Muslim World: The Rise and Fall of Islam's Greatest Dynasty - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71yBCAlMi8L.jpg) ## Customer Reviews ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Almost a page-turner! *by J***R on 2 February 2021* Amazingly detailed account of events taking place more than 1200 years ago. Very colorful and in some places even a page-turner. The author is very good at noting where the sources are conflicting or may not be trusted. ### ⭐⭐⭐ splendid stories, but big gaps in historical analysis *by R***D on 14 May 2011* This book is a fun read that is well written and designed for the interested layman. It never gets bogged down in academic controversies and finds the fun in the blood, sex, and civilization of a truly unique empire. Unfortunately, there were many historical details, however academic this might sound, that I was hungry to learn about and felt continually disappointed at their light treatment, i.e. how Islam was instituted in the occupied countries (or why it succeeded in taking such firm root), what the sources of Arab power were (faith, organization, economics or some combination thereof?), and why the Abbasids produced some of the greatest cultural works that humanity has ever known? While Kennedy makes it clear that he intended to tell interesting stories, I really wanted much more than he provided. As such, it is good popular history, but not dense enough for my taste. The Abbasids took power in a revolution from the Ummayads, who were a group from the prophet Mohammed's tribe but not part of his larger family (the Abbasids were cousins of the Prophet). While we get a lot about the intrigues and military aspects, all anecdotal, there is very little about the religious side of the conflict, particularly in tribal context. The Sunnis and Shiites were not yet quite formed, crucial religious history that I wanted to better understand. Then, the Persians were included as vital allies, at the time of their conversion to Islam, also barely covered in the book. This was thus a badly incomplete picture. It is not even clear why the revolution took hold, beyond bare facts like the Ummayads were unpopular due to their Syrian base. Once power was consolidated, there were some very interesting personalities, such as the shrewd and ruthless Mansur, who established the state's ruling structure with persian viziers and professional army. He is an austere and fascinating figure. Then there is Herun, the ruler in 1000 Arabian Nights, who exemplifies the golden age, though sowed the seeds of civil war that was to lead to the dynasty's downfall 100 years later. They created the Harem and countless other forms that set the standard for all later Islamic regimes, which never equalled their splendor or cultural sophistication and openness. There was even a period of inquiry into the Koran as an historical document, as Greek philosophical influence grew for a brief period. Once again, fun stories, but little hard fact about how the empire was run, why it reached a certain size, why it suddenly became religiously conservative and choked off the development of practical scientific enquiry, and what the foundations of power were. In other words, I wanted more geo-political and social analyses. The fall of the Abbasids came with their inability to provide orderly successions as well as their dependence on Turkish mercenaries. As chaos rose, the provinces rebelled and even the maintenance of the waterways that had made mesopotamia a breadbasket to unique civilizations for 3000 years were allowed to fall into ruin, never again to be revived. Not only was this the passing of Arabs as a global power, but the end of a united Islam, as the Sunni-Shiite split hardened into separate sects and innumerable regional principates arose. Alas, these details are neglected in favor of personal tales of decapitations, torture, and corruption and betrayal - fun stories, but just a surface gloss. Recommended. It is a good starting point, but less than half the history. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ US title of UK book *by J***E on 22 August 2009* This title is the US title of the identical UK-titled The Court of the Caliphs . --- ## Why Shop on Desertcart? - 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016 - 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories - 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price - 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members) - 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection - ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews **Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.tn/products/698402783-when-baghdad-ruled-the-muslim-world-the-rise-and-fall](https://www.desertcart.tn/products/698402783-when-baghdad-ruled-the-muslim-world-the-rise-and-fall) --- *Product available on Desertcart Tunisia* *Store origin: TN* *Last updated: 2026-08-24*