What did people eat in the early Islamic civilisation?

Where did food come from in AD900 Baghdad?

Sheep and goats in a farmers field in Iraq. — Image caption,
Farmers raised animals like sheep and goats to provide food in the early Islamic Civilisation.

Farmers in Baghdad grew their own food, planting crops (plants that farmers grow to eat or sell) like wheat, fruits and vegetables.

They used water from the Tigris River to help the crops grow.

They also raised animals like sheep, cows and chickens.

Other food came to Baghdad through trade on the Silk Road.

Rice came from China, spices like cumin came from India.

Dates, honey and sugar were also brought from faraway places.

Important words

Important words on what people in the early Islamic Civilisation.

Keyword	Definition
Banquets	Fancy meals with lots of food for special occasions.
Crops	Plants that farmers grow to eat or sell.
Fertile	Land that is good for growing plants and crops.
Merchants	People who buy and sell goods.
Trade	Buying, selling and exchanging goods.

How was food grown?

A photo of the River Tigris in Baghdad. — Image caption,
The River Tigris in Baghdad was used for trade, travel and irrigation (watering crops).

Farming was important for growing food in the early Islamic civilisation.

Baghdad was built close to the Tigris River and the Euphrates River which meant lots of crops could be grown and watered.

Farmers built canals and wells and used waterwheels to bring water to crops.

Wheat and barley were often grown for food.

Farmers changed what they planted each year. This helped the soil stay healthy.

Farmers also raised sheep, goats, cows and chickens.

Where else did food come from?

Baghdad was on the Silk Road. This was not just one road, but many connected roads.

These roads joined China, India, the Middle East and Europe.

Traders brought new foods to Baghdad from faraway places along the Silk Road. This made meals in Baghdad tasty and full of new flavours.

Click the arrows on the slideshow below to see types of food brought from the Silk Road:

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Image caption,
The Silk Road allowed new foods to arrive into the early Islamic civilisation, like rice which came from China.
Image caption,
Sugar and spices formed a key part of the flavour of early Islamic food and these arrived on the Silk Road from India.
Image caption,
Dates are native to the Middle East but were traded across the Islamic civilisation and were central to many recipes.
Image caption,
Honey was used by most ancient civilisations. In cities like Baghdad, honey was thought of as a symbol of health as well as a tasty food.

What was the most common food?

A photo of jalebi being fried in India. — Image caption,
Zulabiyya (sometimes called jalebi) is a sweet, fried dough still made today from the same 9th century recipe.

People ate food like dates, honey, fish and milk.

Spices like cumin, tarragon, mint and caraway were used to add flavour.

Rich people ate meat such as lamb and goat.

Some foods, like pork, and drinks like alcohol, were not allowed for religious reasons.

Some popular dishes included:

Tharid - A meat stew with pieces of bread soaked in.
Asida - A porridge eaten with dates or honey
Zulabiyya - A sweet dessert soaked in honey.
Luqam – Fried dough balls, dipped in honey or syrup.

How do we know what people ate?

A table top view of an array of sweet and savoury dishes made for a traditional feast to celebrate Eid al-Fitr the end of Ramadan. — Image caption,
A modern Eid al-Fitr feast, a tradition that's continued at the end of Ramadan since the 9th century.

Caliphs (rulers of the Islamic Empire) hosted grand banquets (fancy meals with lots of food for special occasions) in their palaces with lots of food and music.

A writer who went by the name Al-Warraq wrote an Arabic cookbook in the 9th century called Kitab al-Tabikh (The Book of Dishes). It has recipes used for the courts of the Abbasid Caliphate (AD750 - 1258) in Baghdad.

During the month of Ramadan, Muslims would fast. This means they do not eat or drink during daylight hours. At the end of Ramadan, people celebrate Eid al-Fitr, with lots of food and gifts.

Muslims around the world today still participate in Ramadan and celebrate its end during Eid ul-Fitr.

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