The city was founded by the caliph Abu Ja'far al-Mansur and given the name Madinat al-Salam (City of Peace) but the old name of Baghdad (Persian for Gift of God) survived. What al-Mansur was founding was not a metropolis. Instead he intended only to create a site for his palace, barracks for his elite soldiers and administrative offices for his empire. He laid out a circular enclosure on the west bank of the Tigris. The city subsequently spread to the east bank. As befitted the capital of an Islam-based empire there was a magnificent mosque located at the center of the circular enclosure.

The growth of Baghdad economy was fueled by the demand generated by the caliphate. First there was the demand for goods and services involved in building the structures; the oppulent palace called the Golden Gate, the mosque, the barracks and the administrative offices. Then there was the market for supplying the food, clothing and luxuries the caliphate demanded and could afford. And meanwhile Baghdad grew as a result of the trade that was passing through. The caravans and the ships needed a safe resting place for their journeys and Baghdad provided that. Often cities grow up where the trade cargoes have to be transfered from one mode of transportation to another. Being at the juncture of the land and water trade routes Baghdad served that function.

The map below shows the modern city.

Only the major highways are shown above, as white lines.

The provinces of Iraq in the vicinity of Baghdad are shown below.

(To be continued.)