750 Abbasid Revolution The Abbasids overthrow the Umayyads and establish a new caliphal dynasty that becomes central to later intellectual flourishing. 762 Baghdad founded Caliph al-Mansur founds Baghdad, which becomes a leading center of government, scholarship, and trade. 786 Harun al-Rashid begins reign The reign of Harun al-Rashid is traditionally associated with the height of Abbasid court culture. c. 800 House of Wisdom emerges in Baghdad Translation and scholarly activity centered on Baghdad accelerates around institutions later associated with the Bayt al-Hikma. 813 Al-Ma'mun becomes caliph Al-Ma'mun's rule is closely linked to patronage of learning, translation, and astronomy. 827 House of Wisdom patronage intensifies Abbasid sponsorship of translators and scholars helps transmit Greek, Persian, and Indian knowledge into Arabic. 850 Al-Khwarizmi's algebra circulates Works associated with al-Khwarizmi help establish algebra and spread Hindu-Arabic numerals in the Islamic world and beyond. 859 Al-Qarawiyyin founded The mosque and learning center at Fez, later famed as a university, is founded. 870 Al-Razi born The Persian physician and philosopher later becomes one of the most influential medical writers of the medieval world. 909 Fatimid Caliphate established A rival caliphate forms in North Africa, expanding the geography of Islamic intellectual life. 929 Caliphate of Cordoba proclaimed Abd al-Rahman III proclaims the caliphate in al-Andalus, making Cordoba a major western Islamic center. 970 Al-Azhar founded The Fatimids establish Al-Azhar in Cairo, one of the most enduring institutions of Islamic learning. 980 Ibn Sina born Avicenna is born and later writes works that shape medicine and philosophy across Eurasia. 1000 Optics advances under Ibn al-Haytham Research later associated with Ibn al-Haytham transforms the study of light and vision. 1037 Ibn Sina dies The death of Ibn Sina marks the passing of one of the Golden Age's most important polymaths. 1058 Al-Ghazali born Al-Ghazali becomes a major theologian and philosopher whose works reshape Islamic intellectual life. 1085 Toledo captured by Castile The Christian conquest of Toledo later facilitates translation from Arabic into Latin. 1126 Ibn Rushd born Averroes is born in Cordoba and later becomes one of the most influential commentators on Aristotle. 1198 Ibn Rushd dies The death of Averroes symbolizes the end of a major Andalusi philosophical career. February 10, 1258 Mongols sack Baghdad The conquest of Baghdad by Hulagu devastates the Abbasid capital and is conventionally treated as the end of the Golden…