Page 36 - A History of the World in 25 Cities
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Life in
Baghdad was a cosmopolitan city where scholars of different faiths could study together. This freedom to debate resulted in many exciting advances in science. Doctors discovered new cures and drugs, including one that put patients to sleep during surgery. Before that discovery, all patients used to stay wide awake during operations! Scholars also invented algebra and the decimal system of nine numbers and a zero, now used everywhere in the world.
Some new inventions like the astrolabe had a profound effect on the world. The astrolabe was an intricate device that could be used to measure
the positions of planets and stars in the sky. This meant you could tell exactly where you were on the Earth. It was especially important because it
allowed Muslims to work out the direction of Mecca while travelling. In time, it would be used by European sailors to help navigate large distances across oceans.
Theatre shows were very popular in Baghdad. However, instead of starring human actors, they were called ‘shadow theatres’ and
featured shadows projected on to walls. The shows usually took place
just after sunset and could be held anywhere in the city. The highly skilled puppeteers controlled the shadow puppets with long, thin rods attached to their moving parts. Shadows of the puppets were cast on to a large wall using a very bright lantern. Shows would attract large crowds, who enjoyed the stories into the evening.
In NuMbers
Number of workers involved in the four- year construction
of Baghdad:
1OOOOO Height of the city’s outer
defensive wall:
