Evaluate the view that the ‘Abbasid Revolution was mainly a religious revolution.

The question requires that candidates make an appraisal of the view that the ʽAbbasid Revolution was mainly a religious revolution, weighing up the strengths and limitations of this assessment. Candidates may agree, partially agree, or disagree with the view. They may elect to evaluate the significance of religion in the context of other aspects of the ʽAbbasid Revolution, for example the relocation of the capital from Damascus to Baghdad, which empowered Iranians and lessened the power of Syrian Arabs. Nevertheless, the focus of the response will be on religion and its significance (or lack thereof). In this context, candidates may comment on factors such as discontent amongst Sunni and Shia in the Umayyad dynasty in the mid-700s, the role of key figures, such as Abu al-ʽAbbas al-Saffah and/or Abu Muslim Khurasani. They may also reference the importance of Silk Road garrisons in the ʽAbbasid Revolution.