Al-Saffah

High school (ages 12+)
History & Culture

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Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/al-saffah

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. When was Al-Saffah born?Circa 721/722 CE
2. When did Al-Saffah die?June 8, 754 CE
3. What is Al-Saffah known for?First Abbasid Caliph; leader of the Abbasid Revolution
4. What is the capital relocation initiated?Moved the capital from Damascus towards the site of the future Baghdad
5. Who was Al-Saffah?Al-Saffah was the first leader of the Abbasid Caliphate, born around 721/722 CE. He was known by the nickname "the Blood‑Shedder" because of his strong determination to secure his new rule.
6. Why did Al-Saffah move the capital to Baghdad?He moved the capital from Damascus to the newly built city of Baghdad to show a fresh start and create a new center for trade, culture, and learning.

Caliphate: The political and religious office of a caliph, considered the supreme leader of all Muslims.
Abbasid Revolution: The overthrow of the Umayyad Caliphate by the Abbasid family, leading to a new dynasty.
Umayyad Caliphate: The second major caliphate, known for its expansion but also internal dissent leading to its downfall.
Epithet: A descriptive nickname or phrase used to characterize a person or thing.