The great libraries of the Abbasids

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.