jun 25, 762 - Baghdad Built

Description:

Baghdad, built by the caliph al-Mansur, becomes the first purpose-built capital in the Muslim empire. It's location in the central part of the empire was an attempt to centralize Abbasid power in the Middle East, while simultaneously placating the nearby Shi'a. The capital's proximity to Iran also resulted in a heavy Persian influence over the city and its administration, as well as creating a large mawali population within the city. Baghdad quickly became the largest city in the empire with between 1/2 and a million people.