This early Islamic period is sometimes called the Golden Age of Islam because there were so many inventions in science and the arts at this time. The Abbasid caliphs (leaders) wanted people to learn.

Gadara, located some 120 km northwest of Amman (Photo courtesy of ACOR) AMMAN — The Abbasid presence at Gadara (modern Umm Qais) was mentioned in the works of Arab mediaeval geographers and scholars.