Discuss the factors that led to the fall of the Abbasid Dynasty

KCSE IRE Paper 2 2008 Question 5(a) with Answers.

​Discuss the factors that led to the fall of the Abbasid Dynasty.  (10 marks) 

1. ​Moral degeneration due to the extravagant life styles of the ruling class who concentrated on pomp and ceremony at the expense of solving the problems of the caliphate. 
2. Weak leadership by the Caliphs. The Caliphs could not rule the empire efficiently and effectively. 
3. Dissatisfaction by the provincial govemors in response to the appointment of the Turkish guards to take care of the royal security. 
4. Discontent by the Arab and the Persian soldiers who felt sidelined. 
5. Some provincial governors led revolts against the Caliph. 
6. Racial discord between Arabs and non-Arabs, and religious conflicts between Muslims and non-Muslims undermined unity and peace in the Caliphate. 
7. Decline in military power as the army had been neglected at the expense of cultural affairs. 
8. Economic unrest due to imposition of heavy taxes and other levies on the population. 
9. Latter Abbasid rulers invested enormous powers on the provincial govemors and this led to the 
10. decentralization of the administration/power. 
11. Due to decentralization of power some provincial governors declared their own autonomy/independence. 
12. Emergence of Muslim sects such as the Shiites, Qarmathians, etc. undermined the unity of the Muslim Ummah. 
13. Invasion by the Romans who captured Jerusalem and devastated parts of the Caliphate. 
14. Invasion by the Tartars. 
15. Invasion by the Mongols led by Halaghu Khan who killed the Caliph and destroyed Baghdad in 1258 A.D. thus giving the final blow to the Abbasid dynasty. 
16. Natural catastrophies, for example:- floods, famine weakened the caliphate. 
17. Vastness of the empire which became difficult to administer/manage. 
18. Succession problems. 

(10 marks) 

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