ARABIA, 



ANCIENT AND MODERN. 



CHAPTER I. 



The Abbassides, or Caliphs of Bagdad. 



Accession of the Abbassides Galiphs of that Dynasty Almansor 

 . Haroun al Raschid Almamoun Motassem Capricious 

 Cruelty of Motawakkel Magnificence of the Caliphs Weak- 

 ness and Corruption of their Government Their Military Opera- 

 tions Wars of Haroun al Raschid and his Successors with the 

 Romans Victories of Nicephorus Phocas and John Zimisces 

 over the Moslems Causes of the Downfal of the Abbassides 

 Despotic Power of the Turkish Guards Ravages and Cruelties 

 of the Karmathians Dismemberment of the Empire into inde- 

 pendent Principalities Persia usurped by petty Dynasties Con- 

 quests of Mahmoud of Ghizni in India Irruptions of the Tartars 

 Togrul Beg appointed Viceroy of the Mohammedan Dominions 

 Hoolaku lays Siege to Bagdad Surrender and Pillage of that 

 Capital Death of Mostasem and Extinction of the Caliphate. 



WITH the elevation of the house of Abbas the fa- 

 mily of Mohammed ascended once more the pulpit 

 and the throne of their ancestor ; and so long as the 

 Saracen power continued to exist they ruled the 

 greater part of the Moslem world. The Arabs have 

 marked the several dynasties with different degrees 

 of reverence and respect. The reigns of Abu Beker, 

 Omar, Othman, and Ali, are distinguished by the 

 title of the Perfect Caliphate, as that of their suc- 

 cessors is called the Imperfect. The Ommiades are 



VOL. II. A 



