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Early Islamic Civilisation: Explore Baghdad in AD 900

Early Islamic Civilisation: Explore Baghdad in AD 900

Learn about early Islamic civilisation and Baghdad around AD 900: build the Round City, trade goods and meet House of Wisdom scholars.

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What you'll learn

  • Where and when Baghdad was built, and who founded it
  • How the Round City was planned with walls, gates and a centre
  • How trade routes brought silk, spices, paper and ideas to Baghdad
  • What the House of Wisdom was and what its scholars discovered
  • How Baghdad and Anglo-Saxon Britain differed around AD 900
  • What Baghdad and Anglo-Saxon Britain had in common

Chapter by chapter

  1. Where and when: the early Islamic empire and Baghdad Free to try

    Years 3–6 history · 1

  2. Baghdad c. AD 900: the Round City and how it grew

    Years 3–6 history · 1

  3. Trade and daily life in Baghdad c. AD 900

    Years 3–6 history · 1

  4. The House of Wisdom: scholars and their discoveries

    Years 3–6 history · 1

  5. Contrasts with British history: Baghdad and Anglo-Saxon Britain c. AD 900

    Years 3–6 history · 1

  6. Early Islamic civilisation challenge (10 questions)

What the chapters cover in the national curriculum in England:

  1. Years 3–6 history: A non-European society that provides contrasts with British history – one study chosen from: early Islamic civilization, including a study of Baghdad c. AD 900; Mayan civilization c. AD 900; Benin (West Africa) c. AD 900-1300

About this adventure

Early Islamic Civilisation: Explore Baghdad in AD 900 is an interactive history game that teaches children aged 8–11 about Baghdad around AD 900, the House of Wisdom and how life there contrasted with Anglo-Saxon Britain. It follows the KS2 history study of a non-European society, and a narrator called Layla guides each step.

Players place Baghdad by the River Tigris on a map and a timeline, then build Caliph al-Mansur's Round City with its moat, walls, four gates, mosque and palace. They send silk, spices, gold and furs along trade routes, learn how paper came from China, and visit a bimaristan (hospital) and a hammam (bathhouse).

In the House of Wisdom, they help translators and try hands-on tasks with scholars such as al-Khwarizmi, whose work gave us the word algebra. Finally they sort similarities and differences between Baghdad and Anglo-Saxon Britain.

Questions and answers

What was early Islamic civilisation, in simple words?

Early Islamic civilisation was the world of cities, trade and learning that grew up under the caliphs after Islam began in Arabia around AD 610. By about AD 750 its empire stretched from Spain to the edge of India, with Baghdad as its capital.

Why was Baghdad built as a round city?

Caliph al-Mansur began building Baghdad as a round city in AD 762. With the mosque and palace in the centre, every gate was the same distance away, and a circle protected by a moat and two walls was easier to guard.

What was the House of Wisdom in Baghdad?

The House of Wisdom was a great library and centre of learning in Baghdad. Muslim, Christian and Jewish scholars there translated books from Greek, Persian and Sanskrit into Arabic, then tested the ideas and made new discoveries in maths, astronomy and medicine.

What age is this early Islamic civilisation game for?

The game is for children aged 8 to 11 and matches the KS2 history curriculum in England. It is pitched mainly at Year 6, where Baghdad c. AD 900 is most often taught, and suits confident Year 4 and Year 5 readers too.

How long does the Baghdad game take and what does it include?

Playing everything takes about 40 minutes. There are five chapters, each with a short animated introduction and recap, hands-on building, sorting and matching tasks, quick checks along the way, and a 10-question final challenge.

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