The Islamic Golden Age traditionally lasted from the 8th century to the 13th century. It began during the reign of the Abbasid Caliph Harun al-Rashid (786–809 AD) with the founding of the House of Wisdom in Baghdad, which became a major center of translation, learning, and scholarship. This period saw flourishing advancements in science, culture, medicine, philosophy, and technology. The era is conventionally said to have ended with the Mongol sack of Baghdad in 1258, though some scholars extend the golden age up to the 14th or even 15th and 16th centuries based on continued cultural and scientific activities in regions like Al-Andalus and the rise of Islamic gunpowder empires such as the Ottoman, Safavid, and Mughal Empires. In summary, the core Islamic Golden Age is roughly from the 8th century to the mid-13th century, marking about five centuries of intellectual and cultural achievements in the Islamic world.
