Britannica
Sources used in this answer
Which public works were promoted by the Barmakid family?
Created from Britannica articles
using AI.
AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
Hārūn al-Rashīd
Miniature by Yaḥyā ibn Maḥmūd al-Wāsiṭī in the Maqāmāt of al-︎Ḥarīrī depicting an Abbasid-era royal library, possibly the Bayt al-Ḥikmah in Baghdad, in the Bibliothèque Nationale, Paris.
The Barmakid family, who served as influential viziers to the early ‘Abbāsid caliphs, promoted several types of public works to benefit the empire. Specifically, they were responsible for the development of:
- Canals
- Mosques
- Postal services
While these contributions supported infrastructure, the family was also noted for their significant patronage of science, literature, and philosophy. However, historical accounts also indicate that they simultaneously spent vast sums of money on the construction of magnificent palaces along the Tigris River.1