Papyrus Makers

Baghdad

Date: c. 833-42

Caliph al-Muʿtasim (r. 833-42) established cultivation of the papyrus reed in Iraq, and founded a factory for the production of papyrus north of Baghdad. Artisans were brought from … read more

Samarra

Date: 836 and later

The historian and geographer al-Yaʿqubi (d. 897-98), records the creation of the new city of Samarra by caliph al-Muʿtasim (r. 833-42). Al-Yaʿqubi writes the caliph summoned … read more