Evaluate the impact of Harun al-Rashid on the ‘Abbasid Empire.

The question requires that candidates make an appraisal of the impact of Harun al-Rashid on the ‘Abbasid Empire weighing up the strengths and limitations of his rule. Impacts may extend beyond the timeframe but must be clearly linked to the issue raised in the question. Candidates may refer to his support of intellectual development including the Golden Age of Islam in which cultural and intellectual developments reached extraordinary levels. International influence was expanded through military campaigns and diplomatic relations with China and the Frankish Empire. Trade and industry expanded enormously and the Empire reached its highest level of prosperity. Harun weakened the Empire through granting more power to local rulers in exchange for money. He increased the power of the vizier and the bureaucracy through the Barmakid family and weakened the power and influence of the caliph and created factions and rivalries which weakened the Empire. His failure to create an orderly succession led to a civil war between his sons. Candidates' opinions or conclusions will be presented clearly and supported by appropriate evidence.