The city of Baghdad (Arabic: بغداد Baġdād) was established by the Abbasid dynasty as its capital in the 8th century, marking a new era in Islamic history after their defeat of the Umayyad Caliphate. It replaced Seleucia-Ctesiphon, a Sasanian capital 35 km southeast of Baghdad, which was virtually abandoned by the end of the 8th century.

Archaeological evidence shows that the site of Baghdad was occupied by various peoples long before the Arab conquest of Mesopotamia in 637 ce, and several ancient empires had capitals located in the vicinity.

With the rise of the Abbasid Caliphate in the mid-8th century, Iraq became the center of Islamic rule, with Baghdad, founded in 762, serving as the capital. Baghdad flourished during the Islamic Golden Age, becoming a global center for culture, science, and intellectualism.

The following is a timeline of the history of the city of Baghdad, Iraq. 2000 BCE – Babylonian city of Baghdadu in existence (approximate date). [1] Al-Khassakiyya mosque built. [4] 767 – Al-Mansur Mosque built. [4] 775 – Bab al-Taq (gate) built. [5] 786 – Harun al-Rashid in power. [6] 799 – Mashhad al-Kazimiyya built. [4]

Baghdad was founded in 762 CE by the Abbasid caliph Al-Mansur on the banks of the Tigris River. The city was strategically located between the empires of the East and West, and it quickly grew to become a major center of trade, culture, and learning.