ABSTRACT
Islamic history is sometimes treated as the rise and decline of the Abbasid Empire. From 750 to 945, an absolutist empire centered in Baghdad experienced economic growth, cultural richness, and political stability that made it the world's dominant power. From the eighth century onward, Islam became a global civilization in which knowledge, technology, and artistic tastes were transported back and forth across a vast domain. The compilation of the shari'ah was accompanied by the parallel elaboration of a practical system of justice with courts, rules of evidence, and properly trained officials. The state appointed the judges (qadis) who presided over the shari'ah courts, and their application of the sacred law strengthened shariah-based norms within society. The caliphs were responsible for upholding the shari'ah and ensuring that opportunities for the fulfillment of an Islamic way of life prevailed within the community. The Mongol invasions in early fifteenth century rocked but did not destroy the existing Islamic order in the Middle East.
