Editing Abbasid Caliphate (section)

==Trade==
{{see also|History of Islamic economics|Slavery in the Abbasid Caliphate}}

Under [[Harun al-Rashid|Harun]], maritime trade through the [[Persian Gulf]] thrived, with Arab vessels trading as far south as [[Madagascar]] and as far east as China, Korea, and Japan. The growing economy of Baghdad and other cities inevitably led to the demand for luxury items and formed a class of entrepreneurs who organized long-range caravans for the trade and then the distribution of their goods. A whole section in the East Baghdad suq was dedicated to Chinese goods.

Arabs traded with the [[Baltic region]] and made it as far north as the [[British Isles]]. Tens of thousands of Arab coins have been discovered in parts of Russia and Sweden, which bear witness to the comprehensive trade networks set up by the Abbasids. [[Offa of Mercia|King Offa of Mercia (in England)]] minted gold coins similar to those of the Abbasids in the eighth century.<ref name="Bobrick 2012 74">{{harvnb|Bobrick|2012|p=74}}</ref>
[[File:Khalili Collection Islamic Art mss 0972 fol 6b-7a.jpg|thumb|''[[Book of Roads and Kingdoms]]'' written by [[Istakhri]]]]
Muslim merchants employed ports in [[Bandar Siraf]], [[Basra]], and [[Aden]] and some [[Red Sea]] ports to travel and trade with India and [[South East Asia]]. Land routes were also utilized through [[Central Asia]]. Arab businessmen were present in China as early as the eighth century. Arab merchants sailed the Caspian Sea to reach and trade with [[Bukhara]] and [[Samarkand]].<ref name="Bobrick 2012 74"/>

Many caravans and goods never made it to their intended destinations. Some Chinese exports perished in fires, while other ships sank. It was said that anybody who made it to China and back unharmed was blessed by God. Common sea routes were also plagued by pirates who built and crewed vessels that were faster than most merchant ships. It is said that many of the adventures at sea in the [[Sinbad the Sailor|Sinbad tales]] were based on historical fiction of mariners of the day.<ref name="Bobrick 2012 75">{{harvnb|Bobrick|2012|p=75}}</ref>

The Abbasids also established overland trade with Africa, largely for gold and [[Trans-Saharan slave trade|slaves]]. When trade with Europe ceased due to [[Arab–Byzantine wars|hostilities]], Jews served as a link between the two hostile worlds.<ref name="Bobrick 2012 75"/>

The Abbasids engaged in extensive trade with the Italian maritime republics of [[Republic of Venice|Venice]] and [[Republic of Genoa|Genoa]], from the 11th century. Venetian merchants facilitated the exchange of high-value goods such as spices, silk, and precious metals from the East. In return, Venice exported European manufactured goods and luxury items. While Genoese merchants traded in luxury goods like spices, textiles, and other high-demand items. Genoa's strategic position in the Mediterranean enabled it to integrate into the broader Mediterranean trade network, connecting the Abbasid Caliphate with other European markets. These trade relations played a key role in linking the medieval Mediterranean with the broader Islamic world. This exchange of goods, alongside cultural and technological transfers, fostered a more interconnected medieval global economy.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hays |first=Jeffrey |title=Abbasids (A.D. 750 to 1258): Rise, History, Wealth {{!}} Middle East And North Africa — Facts and Details |url=https://africame.factsanddetails.com/article/entry-261.html |access-date=2024-07-10 |website=africame.factsanddetails.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Cross-Cultural Trade and Cultural Exchange During the Crusades |url=https://www.sultanandthesaintfilm.com/education/cross-cultural-trade-cultural-exchange-crusades/ |access-date=2024-07-10 |website=The Sultan and The Saint |language=en-US}}</ref>