How a propaganda campaign and a river battle toppled an empire
In short: Discover how the Abbasid Revolution dismantled the Umayyad Caliphate. This video explores the shift from Arab-centric rule to a diverse, international empire, fueled by skillful propaganda and a decisive military victory in Mesopotamia.
The Abbasid Revolution began around 718 with a concerted effort by the family of al-Abbās to seize power from the Umayyads. They utilized skillful propaganda to gain significant support, particularly from Persians and Shiʿi Arabs in the Khorāsān region. This movement culminated in an open revolt in 747 led by Abū Muslim. The conflict ended in 750 at the Battle of the Great Zab River in Mesopotamia, where the last Umayyad caliph, Marwān II, was defeated. This victory allowed Abū al-ʿAbbās al-Saffāḥ to proclaim himself the first Abbasid caliph.
The transition marked a fundamental shift in Islamic governance. While the Umayyads focused on the West, the Abbasids turned eastward, moving the capital to Baghdad. They moved away from an Arab-centric identity toward an international community of believers, adopting Persian administrative traditions and publicly basing their rule on Islamic law.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: The Abbasid Revolution // Overthrow of the Umayyad Caliphate (717-750)
- Also: Abbasid caliphate | Achievements, Capital, & Facts | Britannica
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