Baghdad - A History Trivia Quiz

Answer: Al-Mansur

Al-Mansur founded Baghdad as the capital of his caliphate, declaring it the perfect site for his kingdom and descendants. The Abbasid Caliphate was feuding with the Umayyad Caliphate and Baghdad was created to assert the Abbasid dominance in he region.

Historians note that at Al-Mansur founded what could be considered present-day Baghdad and that references to Baghdad prior to 762 are likely from a different city that was once in the vicinity.

Answer: Circle

Baghdad was nicknamed the Round City. The circular layout was a common feature in Persia. In the center of the city was a mosque and guard houses with the homes for the residents circled out around the mosque to the city walls. Baghdad was designed by the Barmakid Family, a powerful and wealthy family within the Abbasid Caliphate.

The Barmakids remained influential until Haran al-Rashid noticed just how powerful they had become, dominating Baghdad's wealth. Many characters from "One Thousand and One Arabian Nights" are based off the Barmakids. Jafar the vizier from "Aladdin" is probably the most famous.

Answer: Law

Law and the concept of justice are at the center of Islam, and especially so at that time. The Islamic schools of Hanafi and Hanbali also started to develop during this time in Baghdad. Even today, Hanafi is the largest school of Islam in the world.

The translation of texts into and from Arabic was also a growing area during Islam's golden age. During this time period, it is estimated that Baghdad was the most populous city in the world, although there is no solid evidence.

Answer: Mongol Empire

The Mongol Empire was expanding rapidly throughout Asia, and the Mongol leader Hulagu Khan wanted to get into Mesopotamia. The original intent was just to conquer lands in what is now Iraq, but not take Baghdad. However, Al-Musta'sim, the caliph, refused to surrender any land to the Mongols, who then subsequently sacked the city. Al-Musta'sim was killed in the invasion.

Answer: Suleiman

The fall of Baghdad symbolized total Ottoman control of the Mesopotamian region as they now had a port on the Persian Gulf. Baghdad did not fare well during Ottoman rule and the population declined significantly to a couple of hundred thousand whereas it was once over a million. Baghdad remained under Ottoman control until Persia took it in 1623, but the Ottomans regained it in 1638.

Answer: Freed Islamic slaves

The Mamluks were freed slaves who converted to Islam and then attended specially designed military schools. The Mamluks were in charge of Iraq and Baghdad until 1831. Even today, many of Baghdad's elite are descendants of the Mamluks. The Mamluks led Baghdad to success by opening up to trade with Europe and India, particularly the British East India Company.

Answer: Istanbul

Istanbul was the capital of the Ottoman Empire and by this time in the mid 19th century, the Ottomans had disposed of the Malmuks and reintroduced their direct rule over Baghdad. The telegraph line was a means of communication not necessarily to improve Baghdad's infrastructure (which it did) but served mainly as a way for the Ottomans to control Baghdad.

Answer: Britain

The Mesopotamian Campaign was part of World War I and Britain's fight against the Ottoman Empire. The British were led by General Frederick Maude when they succeeded in taking Baghdad and Basra from the Ottomans. The taking of Baghdad was seen as revenge as the British had been forced to surrender the Kut garrison to the Ottomans in 1916, which was seen as a major defeat.

Answer: Faisal II

Faisal II had been king since 1939 when he was four years old with his regent 'Abd al-llah, who was also killed in the attacks. The Supreme Committee of Free Officers led the coup against Faisal II because they saw Iraq as under the control of the western world and hoped to liberate it. Iraq's economic climate had also been poor since World War II and smaller uprisings throughout the Middle East also weakened Iraq's position in the region. During the aftermath, Iraq was thrown into political chaos until 1968 when the Ba'ath Party took power, with Saddam Hussein taking charge in 1979.

Answer: Green Zone

The Green Zone was about a four sq. mile area of land in the center of Baghdad. The Green Zone housed many military bases as well as several luxurious buildings that once belonged to Hussein and the Ba'ath Party, making it the ideal place to set up a temporary government. The Coalition Provisional Authority later ceded power once a new Iraqi government was established in 2004.