Difference Between Abbasid and Umayyad Empire

1.    While Umayyad Dynasty ruled for nearly 100 years from 661 to 750 AD, Abbasid Dynasty, that overthrew Umayyad Dynasty, ruled for nearly 500 years (750 AD to 1258 AD), was overthrown by the Mongols in 1258 AD.

2.    While the capital of the Islamic world under Umayyad Dynasty was Damascus, the capital of Syria, it shifted to Baghdad under Abbasid Dynasty.

3.    The role and power of women during Umayyad Dynasty was significant. Women did not wear veils, and their advice was considered important in Umayyad Dynasty, while their position in the society degraded during Abbasid Dynasty.

4.    Umayyad’s focused upon military expansion and conquer of territories while Abbasids favored expansion of knowledge.

5.    Umayyad Muslims are referred to as Sunni Muslims while Abbasid Muslims are called the Shiites.

6.    Umayyad was in the highest Discrimination position! They hated Iranians and imposed them, under the most pressure they could. Since Abbasid Caliphate, used to use Iranians as the Arabs in the normal governmental orders and sometimes in the highest positions.

7.    At the end of the time of the Umayyad Caliphate, the Islamic Golden Age, just started. So because a large part of this developing was in the time of Abbasid, so Abbasid was better in the matters related to the sciences, and because it started at the time of the Umayyad Caliphate, the Umayyad Caliphate was better in the matters related to the sciences.