0.1 A spinstress and her child receiving a guest, MaqÄma 5, MaqÄmÄt of al-ḤarÄ«rÄ«, painted by YaḥyÄ l-WÄsiá¹Ä« in 1237. Bibliothèque Nationale, Paris, MS Arabe 5847, f. 13b; source gallica.bnf.fr / BnF xiv
0.2 Flyer for the conference âBaghdÄd â Space of Knowledgeâ. Created by CRC EDRIS, University of Göttingen xxiii
1.1 The neighborhoods of BaghdÄd (8th-9th cent.). © Brill Academic Publishers 5
1.2 Some porters in front of sailing boats, rowing boats and motorboats on the Tigris, 1925. CC-BY-SA 4.0; created by Walter Mittelholzer, January 1925, from the ETH Zurichâs e-pics bildarchiv, URL: https://www.e-pics.ethz.ch/index/ETHBIB.Bildarchiv/ETHBIB.Bildarchiv_284100.html (accessed 31 January 2022) 6
1.3 Mausoleum of MaÊ¿rÅ«f al-KarkhÄ«, 1924. CC-BY-SA 4.0; unknown creator, 18 January 1924, from the ETH Zurichâs e-pics bildarchiv, URL: https://ba.e-pics.ethz.ch/catalog/ETHBIB.Bildarchiv/r/146408/viewmode=infoview/fc=9%3A8090 (accessed 31 January 2022) 7
1.4 Masjid al-KhulafÄʾ (The Caliphsâ Mosque) with the Ilkhanid Minaret, 2014. CC-BY-SA 3.0; file: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:٠سجد_اÙØ®ÙÙاء_ÙÙ_بغداد.jpg; created by Osamah Ibrahim: 1 September 2014, URL: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:٠سجد_اÙØ®ÙÙاء_ÙÙ_بغداد.jpg; (accessed 31 January 2022) 13
1.5 The bricked TalismÄn gate with Caliph al-NÄá¹£irâs inscription running around the upper part of the tower, 1918. Public domain; file: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:1918_gate_Baghdad_Iraq_by_Sven_Hedin.png; created by Sven Hedin: first published in his Bagdad, Babylon, Ninive, Leipzig 1918, p. 131 via Wikimedia commons, URL: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:1918_gate_Baghdad_Iraq_by_Sven_Hedin.png; (accessed 31 January 2022) 15
1.6 The Wasá¹ÄnÄ« gate (viewed from outside), 2016. CC-A 2.0; file: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Al-wastani_gate.jpg; created by David Stanley, 03 April 2016, URL: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Al-wastani_gate.jpg (accessed 31 January 2022) 16
1.7 Khan al-MirjÄn in the 20th century (center). © Ashmolean Museum, University of Oxford 17
1.8 Mausoleum of Zumurrud KhÄtÅ«n with palm trees, 1924. CC-BY-SA 4.0; created by Arnold Heim, 06 August 1924, from the ETH Zurichâs e-pics bildarchiv, URL: https://ba.e-pics.ethz.ch/catalog/ETHBIB.Bildarchiv/r/12783/viewmode=infoview/fc=9%3A8090 (accessed 31 January 2022) 18
1.9 MirjÄniyya Madrasa and mosque. Public domain; from G. Eric and Edith Matson photograph collection at the Library of Congress, URL: https://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/2019706775/ (accessed 28 January 2022) 19
1.10 Street scene in modern BaghdÄd (with oriels). Public domain; from G. Eric and Edith Matson photograph collection at the Library of Congress, URL: https://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/2003653628/ (accessed 28 January 2022) 23
1.11 Cooking scene with a butcher, two cooks and a female servant, MaqÄma 44, MaqÄmÄt of al-ḤarÄ«rÄ«, painted by YaḥyÄ l-WÄsiá¹Ä« in 1237. Bibliothèque Nationale, Paris, MS Arabe 5847, f. 140a; source: gallica.bnf.fr / BnF 33
1.12 A Sabean silversmith at work in his jewelry store, 1932. Public domain; from G. Eric and Edith Matson photograph collection at the Library of Congress, URL: https://loc.gov/pictures/resource/matpc.15983/ (accessed 31 January 2022) 38
2.1 Astrolabe of al-Sahl al-Nishapurī, ca. 1180s or ca. 1280s. CC-BY-4.0; file: https://objektkatalog.gnm.de/wisski/navigate/4518/view; source: the Germanisches Nationalmuseum Nürnberg via Wikimedia commons, created 30 January 2019, URL: https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Datei:Astrolabium_des_al-Sahl_al-Nisaburi.jpg (accessed 31 January 2022) 60
3.1 Reconstruction of the plan of MadÄ«nat al-SalÄm. © Brill Academic Publishers 68
3.2 The marble miḥrÄb from the KhÄá¹£ikÄ« mosque as displayed in the IraqÄ« National Museum. CC-BY-SA 4.0; file: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mihrab_from_al-Khasiki_Mosque_in_Baghdad,_built_by_the_Abbasid_Caliph_Harun_al-Rashid,_192_AH,_Iraq_Museum.jpg; created by Osama Shukir Muhammed Amin FRCP (Glasg): 14 March 2019, URL: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mihrab_from_al-Khasiki_Mosque_in_Baghdad,_built_by_the_Abbasid_Caliph_Harun_al-Rashid,_192_AH,_Iraq_Museum.jpg; (accessed 28 January 2022) 75
3.3 Opening page of a QurʾÄn manuscript by Ibn al-BawwÄb, produced in BaghdÄd in 1000 or 1001 [= 391 AH]. Chester Beatty Library, Dublin, Is 1431, f. 6v. © The Trustees of the Chester Beatty Library Dublin 77
3.4 End of sÅ«ra 73, beginning of sÅ«ra 74 from a QurʾÄn signed by Ibn Muqla, dated to 91_ [= 32_ AH]. Raza Library, Rampur, MS 6093D, f. 202a. Photo created by author 79
3.5 Discussion near a village, MaqÄma 43, MaqÄmÄt of al-ḤarÄ«rÄ«, painted by YaḥyÄ l-WÄsiá¹Ä« in 1237. Bibliothèque Nationale, Paris, MS Arabe 5847, f. 138a; source gallica.bnf.fr / BnF 86
3.6 Courtyard of the Mustaná¹£iriyya Madrasa, 2014. CC-BY-SA 4.0; file: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:اÙ٠درسة_اÙ٠ستÙصرÙØ©_ÙÙ_بغداد_(3).jpg; created by Taisir Mahdi: 17 January 2014, URL: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:اÙ٠درسة_اÙ٠ستÙصرÙØ©_ÙÙ_بغداد_(3).jpg; (accessed 28 January 2022) 89
3.7 Detail, Ä«wÄn of the Bishriyya Madrasa, 1255. Public domain; first published in: Sarre, F. and Herzfeld, E., Archäologische Reise im Euphrat- und Tigrisgebiet, 4 vols., Berlin 1911-1920, III, Tafel LII 91
3.8 Tomb of Zumurrud KhÄtÅ«n, early 20th cent. Public domain; from G. Eric and Edith Matson photograph collection at the Library of Congress, URL: https://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/2019702790/ (accessed 28 January 2022) 92
3.9 TalismÄn gate, restored by Caliph al-NÄá¹£ir in 1221. Public domain; first published in: Sarre, F. and Herzfeld, E., Archäologische Reise im Euphrat- und Tigrisgebiet, 4 vols., Berlin 1911-1920, III, Tafel X 93
I.1 Al-BÄ«rÅ«nÄ«âs horoscope of MadÄ«nat al-SalÄm. Bibliothèque Nationale de France, Paris, MS Arabe 1489, f. 140v; source gallica.bnf.fr / BnF 99
I.2 Al-BÄ«rÅ«nÄ«âs horoscope of MadÄ«nat al-SalÄm (translation). Created by author 100
II.1 BaghdÄd in the early 9th century, with MadÄ«nat al-SalÄm depicted as an oval palatial city. Created by author 106
4.1 Map of Ctesiphon. © Brill Academic Publishers 120
4.2 The Great Hall (Ä«wÄn) of Khosrow II after right side collapsed, 1932. Public domain; from G. Eric and Edith Matson photograph collection at the Library of Congress via Wikimedia commons, URL: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ctesiphon,_Iraq,_1932.jpg (accessed 28 January 2022) 125
4.3 Map of Asoristan and its waterscape. GNU Free Documentation License; CC-BY-SA 4.0; file: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sasanian_Asoristan_and_its_surroundings.svg; created by HistoryofIran 15 October 2020, URL: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sasanian_Asoristan_and_its_surroundings.svg (accessed 28 January 2022) 133
5.1 Al-SaffÄḥ (center) is proclaimed the first Ê¿AbbÄsid Caliph from BalÊ¿amÄ«âs (d. 997) TaʾrÄ«khnÄma (The Historybook) (ca. 1300). © Freer Gallery of Art, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. â Charles Lang Freer Endowment, F1947.19, folio 158v 144
5.2 The death of Caliph al-WÄthiq, from the TaʾrÄ«kh-i Alfi (The History of One Thousand [Years]) MS LACMA M.78.9.4 (ca. 1594). Public domain high resolution image available from the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) via Wikimedia commons, URL: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Deaths_of_Al-Wathiq_and_Muhammad_B._Baiis_Jalis_(recto),_Death_of_Anbakh_(verso),_Folio_from_a_Tarikh-I_Alfi_Manuscript_LACMA_M.78.9.4_(1_of_2).jpg; (accessed 25 January 2022) (cropped) 163
5.3 Depiction of Caliph al-Mutawakkil on a silver medallion. CC-BY-SA 4.0; file: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Al-Mutawakkil.png; created by Taha b. Wasiq b. Hussain: 6 March 2020, URL: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Al-Mutawakkil.png; (accessed 25 January 2022) 166
5.4 The Ê¿Äshiq palace of Caliph al-MuÊ¿tamid in SÄmarrÄʾ, 2019. CC-BY-SA 4.0; file:
5.5 DÄ«nÄr mentioning Caliphs al-Muwaffaq (left, last line) and al-MuÊ¿tamid (right, third line) (dated 884 or 885 [= 271 AH]). CC-BY-SA 2.5; file: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Dinar_of_al-Mu%27tamid,_AH_271.jpg; created by CNG Coins, URL: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Dinar_of_al-Mu%27tamid,_AH_271.jpg (accessed 25 January 2022) 171
5.6 The duration of Caliphsâ reigns in months. Created by author 185
6.1 10th-century bowl from Nishapur, Iran, imitating Chinese porcelain and using calligraphy as decoration. CC0 1.0; file: https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/451802; from the Rogers Fund, 1965 at the Metropolitan Museum of Art New York via Wikimedia commons, URL: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bowl_with_Arabic_Inscription_MET_DP120823.jpg (accessed 31 January 2022) 204
6.2 A debate taking place in a mosque, MaqÄma 50, MaqÄmÄt of al-ḤarÄ«rÄ«, painted by YaḥyÄ l-WÄsiá¹Ä« in 1237. Bibliothèque Nationale, Paris, MS Arabe 5847, f. 164b; source gallica.bnf.fr / BnF 212
7.1 DÄ«nÄr of Ṭughril Beg (dated 1056 or 1057 [= 448 AH]), mentioning him (right, line 4) with his titles al-sulá¹Än al-Ê¿aáºÄ«m shÄhÄnshÄh on the obverse and Caliph al-QÄʾim bi-Amr AllÄh on the reverse (left, line 4). GNU Free Documentation License and CC-SA 3.0; file: https://www.cngcoins.com/Coin.aspx?CoinID=109405; created by Classical Numismatic Groups 30 August 2012, via Wikipedia commons, URL: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:TughrilCoin.jpg (accessed 31 January 2022) 232
7.2 DÄ«nÄr of Malik ShÄh (dated 1091 or 1092 [= 484 AH]), mentioning him with his kunya AbÅ« l-Fatḥ (right, line 4) on the obverse and Caliph al-MuqtadÄ« bi-Amr AllÄh on the reverse (left, line 3). GNU Free Documentation License and CC-SA 2.5; file: https://www.cngcoins.com/Coin.aspx?CoinID=148370; created by Classical Numismatic Groups (CNG) 30 November 1899 [sic], via Wikipedia commons, URL: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Dinar_of_Malik_Shah_I,_AH_465-485.jpg (accessed 31 January 2022) 233
7.3 Mausoleum of Caliph al-RÄshid bi-llÄh (d. 1138) in Iá¹£fahÄn, 2007. CC-BY-SA 4.0; file: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Rashed_belah_tomb.jpg; created by Kamcom: 5 March 2007, URL: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Rashed_belah_tomb.jpg (accessed 28 January 2022) 235
7.4 The Tigris river with a boat bridge and high water between eastern (bottom) and western (top) BaghdÄd from a Persian miniature, 1468. CC0 1.0; file: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Floods_in_Baghdad.jpg; anonymous author, reproduction from color print, URL: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Floods_in_Baghdad.jpg (accessed 25 January 2022) 238
7.5 BaghdÄd in the SaljÅ«q period. © Brill Academic Publishers 246
7.6 Ruins of the main Ä«wÄn of the NiáºÄmiyya Madrasa in Khargird, 1925. © Ernst Herzfeld Papers, FSA.A.6; Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Archives; Gift of Ernst Herzfeld, 1946; Photo: Ernst Herzfeld, FSA.A.6 04.GN.2976 250
7.7 Inscription at the main Ä«wÄn of the NiáºÄmiyya Madrasa in Khargird, 1925. © Ernst Herzfeld Papers, FSA.A.6; Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Archives; Gift of Ernst Herzfeld, 1946; Photographer: Ernst Herzfeld, FSA.A.6 04.GN.2957 250
7.8 Aerial view of the Ê¿Abd al-QÄdir al-JÄ«lÄnÄ« mosque and mausoleum in BaghdÄd as reconstructed in the Ottoman period, 1925. Public domain; created by Walter Mittelholzer, January 1925, from the ETH Zurichâs e-pics bildarchiv https://ba.e-pics.ethz.ch/catalog/ETHBIB.Bildarchiv/r/284097/viewmode=infoview via Wikimedia commons, URL: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:ETH-BIB-Bagdad_-_grosse_Moschee_aus_200_m_Höhe-Persienflug_1924-1925-LBS_MH02-02-0036-AL-FL.tif (accessed 31 January 2022) 253
8.1 Cupola and minaret of Ê¿Umar al-SuhrawardÄ«âs (d. 1234) tomb and ribÄá¹ complex, 2018. CC-BY-4.0; file: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:جا٠ع_ز٠رد_خاتÙÙ.jpg; created by Mustafa Ismail Khalaf: 19 July 2017, URL: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:جا٠ع_ز٠رد_خاتÙÙ.jpg (accessed 31 January 2022) 272
8.2 Photograph of the remains of the bricked TalismÄn Gate, including the inscription (top) of Caliph al-NÄá¹£ir li-DÄ«n AllÄh (d. 1225) and a depiction of his with two dragons (center). © bpk / The Metropolitan Museum of Art / Ernst Herzfeld 273
8.3 Detail showing Caliph al-NÄá¹£ir (center) grasping the tongues of two dragons. © bpk / The Metropolitan Museum of Art / Ernst Herzfeld 274
8.4 Decoration on the Mustaná¹£iriyya Madrasaâs courtyard, 2012. CC-BY-4.0; file: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:اÙ٠درسة_اÙ٠ستÙصرÙØ©_ببغداد.jpg; created by Mondalawy: 27 February 2012, URL: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:اÙ٠درسة_اÙ٠ستÙصرÙØ©_ببغداد.jpg (accessed 31 January 2022) 275
8.5 Mongol troops besieging western BaghdÄd that is connected to its eastern part by a boat bridge, while Caliph al-MustaÊ¿á¹£im (d. 1258) flees the city in a boat, from the Diez Album. CC-BY-NC-SA; Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin, Diez A fol. 70, S. 4, Nr. 1, URL: https://digital.staatsbibliothek-berlin.de/werkansicht?PPN=PPN73601313X&PHYSID=PHYS_0011&view=picture-download; (accessed 28 January 2022) 279
9.1 The Mongols under Hülegü (bottom right) besiege BaghdÄd in 1258, from RashÄ«d al-DÄ«nâs (d. 1318) JÄmiÊ¿ al-tawÄrÄ«kh (The Compendium of Chronicles), MS Suppl. Pers. 1113, f. 180v-181r, ca. 1430. Bibliothèque Nationale, Paris, MS Suppl. Pers. 1113, f. 180v-181r; source gallica.bnf.fr / BnF via Wikimedia commons, URL: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bagdad1258.jpg; (accessed 28 January 2022) 285
9.2 Tombstone of Caliph al-MustaÊ¿á¹£im bi-llÄh (d. 1258) (his regnal title appears in line three). CC-BY-4.0; file: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:اÙ٠ستعص٠_باÙÙÙÙ°Ù.jpg; created by Kalabbas: 17 August 2019, URL: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:اÙ٠ستعص٠_باÙÙÙÙ°Ù.jpg (accessed 28 January 2022) 291
9.3 The minaret of the Caliphal Palace Friday Mosque (JÄmiÊ¿ al-Qaá¹£r) as reconstructed in the Ilkhanid period, 1916. © Ashmolean Museum, University of Oxford 294
9.4 Two Mongol scholars studying the QurʾÄn in a mosque tent, from the Diez Album. CC-BY-NC-SA; Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin, Diez A fol. 70, S. 8, Nr. 1, URL: https://digital.staatsbibliothek-berlin.de/werkansicht?PPN=PPN73601313X&PHYSID=PHYS_0031&DMDID=DMDLOG_0031; (accessed 28 January 2022) 309
10.1 Market scene with black slaves, MaqÄma 34, MaqÄmÄt of al-ḤarÄ«rÄ«, painted by YaḥyÄ l-WÄsiá¹Ä« in 1237. Bibliothèque Nationale, Paris, MS Arabe 5847, f. 105a; source gallica.bnf.fr / BnF 318
10.2 Regional merchants bringing melons and bricks to BaghdÄd by ship, 1932. Public domain; from G. Eric and Edith Matson photograph collection at the Library of Congress, URL: https://www.loc.gov/resource/matpc.13209/ (accessed 28 January 2022) 319
10.3 A rowboat used for the transportation of passengers and foodstuffs, MaqÄma 22, MaqÄmÄt of al-ḤarÄ«rÄ«, painted by YaḥyÄ l-WÄsiá¹Ä« in 1237. Bibliothèque Nationale, Paris, MS Arabe 5847, f. 61a; source gallica.bnf.fr / BnF 321
10.4 Dry course of the NahrawÄn canal, 1909. © The Gertrude Bell Archive, Newcastle University, Image Code L_146 328
10.5 Water wheel (back) supplying a pond, MaqÄma 24, MaqÄmÄt of al-ḤarÄ«rÄ«, painted by YaḥyÄ l-WÄsiá¹Ä« in 1237. Bibliothèque Nationale, Paris, MS Arabe 5847, f. 69b; source: gallica.bnf.fr / BnF 332
11.1 Gold solidus (obvers) showing Emperor Heraclius (d. 641) (center) with his two sons and successors Heraclius Constantine (d. 641) (right) and Heraclonas (d. 641) (left). Public domain; file: https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/462743; from the Metropolitan Museum of Art New York, Gift of Darius Ogden Mills, 1904, URL: https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/462743; (accessed 28 January 2022) 341
11.2 Map of the Mediterranean and the Middle East in ca. 800. Created by author 343
11.3 Depiction of Greek fire in a sea warfare scene, from the Madrid Skylitzes, Cod. Vitr. 26-2, f. 34v, 12th cent. Public domain; file: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Greekfire-madridskylitzes1.jpg; unknown author, via Wikimedia commons, URL: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Greekfire-madridskylitzes1.jpg (accessed 25 January 2022) 345
11.4 The siege of Amorion, from the Madrid Skylitzes, Cod. Vitr. 16-2, f. 59v, 12th cent. Public domain; file: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Siege_of_Amorium.jpg; unknown author, from The Amorium Project via Wikimedia commons, URL: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Siege_of_Amorium.jpg (accessed 25 January 2022) 348
11.5 The embassy of John the Grammarian (third from left, second from right) from Emperor Theophilos (right) to the Caliph (left), from the Madrid Skylitzes, Cod. Vitr. 26-2, f. 47r, 12th cent. Public domain; file: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:John_the_Grammarian_as_ambassador_before_Theophilos_and_Mamun.jpg; unknown author, via Wikimedia commons, URL: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:John_the_Grammarian_as_ambassador _before_Theophilos_and_Mamun.jpg (accessed 25 January 2022) 352
12.1 Passage mentioning the embassy to Charlemagne and the elephant (last line) in the Annales Regni Francorum, MS Latin 10911, f. 87v, 9th cent. Bibliothèque Nationale, Paris, MS Latin 10911, f. 87v; source archivesetmanuscrits.bnf.fr / BnF 376
12.2 Detail of Fra Mauroâs world map showing BaghdÄd (identified with Babilonia) encircled by the Tigris and divided by a canal, 1459. Public domain; file: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Fra_Mauro_map,_sector_XXII.jpg?uselang=de; unknown author, via Wikimedia commons, URL: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Fra_Mauro_map,_sector_XXII.jpg?uselang=de; (accessed 31 January 2022; cropped) 383
III.1 Sailing ship with mast, lookout, anchor and passengers, MaqÄma 39, MaqÄmÄt of al-ḤarÄ«rÄ«, painted by YaḥyÄ l-WÄsiá¹Ä« in 1237. Bibliothèque Nationale, Paris, MS Arabe 5847, f. 119b; source: gallica.bnf.fr / BnF 402
13.1 Byzantine embassy (left) is introduced to the Caliph (right) by the chamberlain (middle), from the Madrid Skylitzes, Cod. Vitr. 26-2, f. 60, 12th cent. Public domain; file: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Byzantine_emissaries_to_the_Caliph.jpg; unknown author, via Wikimedia commons, URL: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Byzantine_emissaries_to_the_Caliph.jpg (accessed 25 January 2022) 409
13.2 Table scene of host with his three guests, MaqÄma 5, MaqÄmÄt of al-ḤarÄ«rÄ«, painted by YaḥyÄ l-WÄsiá¹Ä« in 1237. Bibliothèque Nationale, Paris, MS Arabe 5847, f. 12b; source: gallica.bnf.fr / BnF 421
13.3 Iraqī luster ware bowl from the 10th century depicting a boon companion who holds a cup and grapes in his hands. Public domain; file: https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/45283; from the Metropolitan Museum of Art New York, gift of Edwin Binney 3rd and Purchase, Richard S. Perkins Gift, 1977, URL: https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/452833; (accessed 28 January 2022) 422
14.1 The rogue challenging the learned assembly with riddles, MaqÄma 42, MaqÄmÄt of al-ḤarÄ«rÄ«, painted by YaḥyÄ l-WÄsiá¹Ä« in 1237. Bibliothèque Nationale, Paris, MS Arabe 5847, f. 131b; source: gallica.bnf.fr / BnF 430
14.2 People passing by on BaghdÄdâs Maude Bridge in 1925. CC-BY-SA 4.0; created by Walter Mittelholzer, January 1925, from the ETH Zurichâs e-pics bildarchiv, URL: https://ba.e-pics.ethz.ch/catalog/ETHBIB.Bildarchiv/r/284099/viewmode=infoview/fc=9%3A8090 (accessed 31 January 2022) 433
15.1 An oud player in front of a courtly audience that is listening and drinking, from ḤadÄ«th BayÄḠwa-RiyÄḠ(The Story of BayÄḠand RiyÄá¸) in the codex Vat. Arabo 368, f. 10r, 13th cent. Public domain; taken from The Yorck Project (2002) via Wikipedia commons, URL: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Maler_der_Geschichte_von_Bayâd_und_Riyâd_002.jpg; (accessed 28 January 2022) 442
15.2 Reading taking place in a library or a book shop with more than 130 books, MaqÄma 2, MaqÄmÄt of al-ḤarÄ«rÄ«, painted by YaḥyÄ l-WÄsiá¹Ä« in 1237. Bibliothèque Nationale, Paris, MS Arabe 5847, f. 5a; source: gallica.bnf.fr / BnF 446
15.3 The façade of the MirjÄniyya Madrasa, 1980. © Yasser Tabbaa Archive, Aga Khan Documentation Center, MIT Libraries (AKDC@MIT) 458
15.4 The interior of the MirjÄniyya Madrasa showing the courtyard and the Ä«wÄn, 1920s. © bpk / The Metropolitan Museum of Art / Ernst Herzfeld 459
IV.1 DÄ«nÄr from the time of Caliph al-MahdÄ« (dated 782 or 783 [= 166 AH]), obverse and reverse. CC-BY-4.0; file http://hdl.handle.net/428894.vzg/99f25bef-3c14-41ec-8d07-72928b17474b; taken from the Münzkabinet der Universität Göttingen, URL: https://www.kenom.de/id/record_DE-MUS-062622_kenom_182389 (accessed 31 January 2022) 468
16.1 A teacher instructing or examining a pupil in front of an audience in a palatial setting, MaqÄma 46, MaqÄmÄt of al-ḤarÄ«rÄ«, painted by YaḥyÄ l-WÄsiá¹Ä« in 1237. Bibliothèque Nationale, Paris, MS Arabe 5847, f. 148b; source: gallica.bnf.fr / BnF 477
16.2 A young man reading a book, from Dioscoridesâs De Materia Medica, 1229. GNU Free Documentation License; taken from The Yorck Project (2002) via Wikipedia commons, URL: https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Datei:Syrischer_Maler_des_Kräuterbuchs_des_Dioskurides_001.jpg; (accessed 27 January 2022) 502
16.3 A preacher dressed in black on the pulpit in a mosque, MaqÄma 29, MaqÄmÄt of al-ḤarÄ«rÄ«, painted by YaḥyÄ l-WÄsiá¹Ä« in 1237. Bibliothèque Nationale, Paris, MS Arabe 5847, f. 84b; source: gallica.bnf.fr / BnF 508
V.1 Funeral celebrations in a necropolis, MaqÄma 11, MaqÄmÄt of al-ḤarÄ«rÄ«, painted by YaḥyÄ l-WÄsiá¹Ä« in 1237. Bibliothèque Nationale, Paris, MS Arabe 5847, f. 31b; source: gallica.bnf.fr / BnF 525
V.2 A judge dressed in black deciding a case on the pulpit, MaqÄma 7, MaqÄmÄt of al-ḤarÄ«rÄ«, painted by YaḥyÄ l-WÄsiá¹Ä« in 1237. Bibliothèque Nationale, Paris, MS Arabe 5847, f. 18b; source: gallica.bnf.fr / BnF 527
17.1 Page from an Arabic translation of Ptolemyâs Almagest, 1397. CC BY-4.0; file: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Bodleian_Library_Pococke369_roll332_frame38.jpg; taken from The Bodleian Library MS Pococke 369, URL: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Bodleian_Library_Pococke369_roll332_frame38.jpg (accessed 27 January 2022) 562
17.2 Portrait of Dioscorides, from a manuscript executed at the NiáºÄmiyya Madrasa (BaghdÄd?), ca. 1240. CC BY-4.0; file: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Portrait_of_Dioscorides_from_De_Materia_Medica.jpg; taken from Bodleian Library MS.Arab. d. 138, f. 2b, URL: http://bodley30.bodley.ox.ac.uk:8180/luna/servlet/detail/ODLodl~23~23~113338~140802:A-portrait-of-Dioscorides-A-late (accessed 10 January 2022) 568
17.3 Teacher and disciple discussing herbs, from Dioscoridesâs De Materia Medica, 1229. GNU Free Documentation License; taken from The Yorck Project (2002) via Wikipedia commons, URL: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Arabischer_Maler_des_Kräuterbuchs_des_Dioskurides_004.jpg; (accessed 27 January 2022) 579
18.1 Aerial view of the KÄáºimayn shrines in western BaghdÄd from the north, ca. 1932. Public domain; from G. Eric and Edith Matson photograph collection at the Library of Congress, URL: https://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/2019706732/ (accessed 28 January 2022) 615
18.2 Fighting at (top) and destruction of (bottom right) the tomb of al-Ḥusayn in KarbalÄʾ, from the TaʾrÄ«kh-i Alfi (The History of One Thousand [Years]), ca. 1594. © The Trustees of the British Museum 620
18.3 dÄ«nÄr mentioning Caliph al-Mutawakkil Ê¿alÄ llÄh on the obverse (right, line 4) and his new heir apparent al-MuÊ¿tazz bi-llÄh on the reverse (left, line 4) (dated 856 or 857 [= 242 AH]). GNU Free Documentation License; file: https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Datei:Dinar_of_Al-Mutawakkil,_AH_232-247.jpg; created by CNG Coins 30 August 2012, URL: https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Datei:Dinar_of_Al-Mutawakkil,_AH_232-247.jpg (accessed 28 January 2022) 621
19.1 The shrine of MaÊ¿rÅ«f al-KarkhÄ« in BaghdÄd, 2017. Public domain; file: https://fa.wikishia.net/view/پرÙÙدÙ:Ù ÙبرÙ_٠عرÙÙ_کرخÛ_در_بغداد.png; author Naimi, created 7 January 2017, URL: https://fa.wikishia.net/index.php?curid=31605 (accessed 31 January 2022) 643
19.2 The execution of al-ḤallÄj (center, in white), from the Warren Hastings Album, ca. 1605. No known copyright restrictions; from the A. Augustus Healy Fund and Carll H. de Silver Fund at the Brooklyn Museum 69.48.2 (photo: Brooklyn Museum, 69.48.2_IMLS_SL2.jpg) via Wikimedia commons, URL: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Brooklyn_Museum_-_The_Execution_of_Mansur_Hallaj_From_the_Warren_Hastings_Album.jpg; (accessed 28 January 2022) 666
20.1 Woolen tapestry showing Christian saints, from Egypt, Ê¿AbbÄsid period (750-850). CC0 1.0; file: https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1952.256; from Mrs. Paul Mallon, New York, at the Cleveland Museum of Art, URL: https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1952.256 (accessed 31 January 2022) 699
20.2 A physician preparing an elixir, from Dioscoridesâs De Materia Medica, 1224. Public domain; file: https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/446288; from the Rogers Fund, 1913, at the Metropolitan Museum of Art New York, URL: https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/446288; (accessed 31 January 2022) 714
21.1 Model of a class taking place in a Jewish academy in BaghdÄd. CC0 2.5; file: https://www.pikiwiki.org.il/image/view/82548; from Israel Preker, author
21.2 Letter of Rav Ḥayya Gaon from BaghdÄd to his students asking for a donation for the Academy, 7 February 1007. Reproduced by kind permission of the Syndics of Cambridge University Library 750
22.1 A mandaean place of worship in al-NÄá¹£iriyya (southern Iraq), 2016. CC-BY-3.0; file: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Mandaean-Mandi-Nasiriya-Iraq.jpg; author Aziz1005, created 6 January 2016, URL: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Mandaean-Mandi-Nasiriya-Iraq.jpg (accessed 31 January 2022) 772
23.1 Irrigation canals watering a palm orchard in BaghdÄd, 1924. CC-BY-SA 4.0; created by Arnold Heim, 13 April 1924, from the ETH Zurichâs e-pics bildarchiv, URL: https://ba.e-pics.ethz.ch/catalog/ETHBIB.Bildarchiv/r/40738/viewmode=infoview/fc=9%3A8090 (accessed 31 January 2022) 794
23.2 Aerial view of the Mausoleum and Madrasa of AbÅ« ḤanÄ«fa, 1919. Public domain; file: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:جا٠ع_اÙإ٠ا٠_أبÙ_ØÙÙÙØ©.jpg; source: http://abuhanefa.blogspot.com/2007/05/blog-post_7718.html unknown author, via Wikimedia commons, URL: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:جا٠ع_اÙإ٠ا٠_أبÙ_ØÙÙÙØ©.jpg (accessed 31 January 2022) 800
23.3 Ä«wÄn of the Mustaná¹£iriyya Madrasa, 2005. CC-BY-3.0; file: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mustansiriya_University_CPT.jpg; author: CTP photo, URL: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mustansiriya_University_CPT.jpg (accessed 31 January 2022) 811
23.4 The Katah bridge, a modern boat bridge connecting eastern and western BaghdÄd, 1932. Public domain; from G. Eric and Edith Matson Photograph Collection at the Library of Congress, URL: https://loc.gov/pictures/resource/matpc.16004/ (accessed 31 January 2022) 819
23.5 The MuÊ¿aáºáºam gate (view from the inside), with the British army entering BaghdÄd, 1917. Public domain; file: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Maude_in_Baghdad.jpg; unknown author; first published in Menzies, S., Sir Stanley Maude and Other Memories, London 1920, p. 48 via Wikimedia commons, URL: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Maude_in_Baghdad.jpg; (accessed 31 January 2022) 820
23.6 Embroidered cotton á¹irÄz showing the basmallah from BaghdÄd, reign of Caliph al-QÄdir (r. 991-1031). CC0 1.0; file: https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1974.188; Gift of Ruth Blumka in Memory of Leopold Blumka, at the Cleveland Museum of Art, URL: https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1974.188 (accessed 31 January 2022) 822