Two grand libraries flourished under the Abbasids. They were motivated by the same goals as the ancient libraries of Alexandria and Pergamon: the prestige of the sovereign and the attraction to scholars from everywhere. The grand library of Baghdad, the Bayt al-hikma was developed under the reign of Haroun al-Rashid (786 — 809). It benefited from the latter’s acquisition of ancient Greek works from the court of Constantinople, a practice continued by his successor al-Mamun (813 — 833). A strong memory of the belle epoch of these rich libraries persisted in the 15th century:
“The caliphs and the sovereigns had a lively interest in the grand libraries and paid close attention to them, enabling them to acquire beautiful and numerous collections. It is said that the greatest libraries of Islam were the following three: the library of the Abbasid caliphs of Baghdad, […], the library of the Fatamide caliphs of Cairo […] and the library of the Umeyyade caliphs of Spain.”[324]
The influence of the Baghdad library begins to fade when the capital is relocated to Samarra in 836. But Alexandria, Antioch, Edhessa, Haran, and Nisibia remain great intellectual centers.
