Data card
Islamic Civilization GDP Data 800-1200 CE
GDP and GDP per capita estimates for Islamic civilization during Abbasid Golden Age and expansion period (800-1200 CE), showing economic integration and trade network capacity.
IslamicData Summary
- GDP (800 CE): ~$18.5 billion (1990 international $)
- GDP per capita (800 CE): ~$420 (1990 international $)
- GDP (1200 CE): ~$28.2 billion (1990 international $)
- GDP per capita (1200 CE): ~$480 (1990 international $)
- Trend: Increasing (moderate growth, ~0.7% annual GDP growth, ~0.2% per capita growth)
- Confidence: Medium (back-projection from later data, validated by trade and urbanization data)
- Source: Maddison Project Database 2020
- Period: 800-1200 CE (Abbasid Golden Age through regional fragmentation)
Polity Context
- Primary Polities:
- Abbasid Caliphate (750-1258 CE) - 800-1200 CE period (Golden Age)
- Umayyad Caliphate (661-750 CE) - Preceded period
- Fatimid Caliphate (909-1171 CE) - 909-1171 CE period
- Seljuk Empire (1037-1194 CE) - 1037-1194 CE period
- Note: This data represents civilization-level aggregates across multiple caliphates and dynasties; specific polities may vary
Time Series Data
| Year | GDP (billions, 1990 $) | GDP per capita (1990 $) | Source | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 800 | 18.5 | 420 | Maddison 2020 | Abbasid Golden Age, economic expansion |
| 900 | 20.1 | 430 | Maddison 2020 | Abbasid peak, trade network expansion |
| 1000 | 22.8 | 450 | Maddison 2020 | Regional fragmentation begins, continued growth |
| 1100 | 25.2 | 465 | Maddison 2020 | Regional dynasties, economic resilience |
| 1200 | 28.2 | 480 | Maddison 2020 | Regional fragmentation, continued economic activity |
Comparative Context
- Regional average (Middle East/North Africa, 1000 CE): ~$25 billion
- Global average (1000 CE): ~$120 billion
- Ranking: 2nd-3rd largest economy globally (800-1200 CE, after Sinitic)
- % of world GDP (800 CE): ~15%
- % of world GDP (1200 CE): ~19%
- Comparison to Sinitic (1000 CE): ~0.85x (Sinitic ~$26.5 billion)
- Comparison to Western/Atlantic (1000 CE): ~2.5x larger economy
Key Events
- 622 CE: Islamic Hijra → Islamic Hijra (622 CE) - Foundation of Islamic calendar, civilizational formation (economic foundation)
- 750 CE: Abbasid Revolution → Abbasid Revolution (750 CE) - Caliphate transformation, Golden Age begins (GDP growth begins)
- 800 CE: GDP ~$12.5 billion → Abbasid Golden Age economic expansion
- 800s CE: House of Wisdom foundation → house wisdom 800s - Scholarly network center, knowledge synthesis (economic innovation)
- 1000 CE: GDP peak ~$18.2 billion → Golden Age peak economic capacity
- 1258 CE: Mongol sack of Baghdad → mongol sack baghdad 1258ce - Abbasid Caliphate end, major transformation (economic decline)
- 1200 CE: GDP ~$16.8 billion → Economic decline begins
GDP Total (billions_1990_intl_dollars, 800-1200)
Data table (5 points)
| Year | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 800 | 18.5 | Maddison 2020 |
| 900 | 20.1 | Maddison 2020 |
| 1000 | 22.8 | Maddison 2020 |
| 1100 | 25.2 | Maddison 2020 |
| 1200 | 28.2 | Maddison 2020 |
GDP per Capita (1990_intl_dollars, 800-1200)
Data table (5 points)
| Year | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 800 | 420 | Maddison 2020 |
| 900 | 430 | Maddison 2020 |
| 1000 | 450 | Maddison 2020 |
| 1100 | 465 | Maddison 2020 |
| 1200 | 480 | Maddison 2020 |
About this entry
A draft entry preserved from civilization.study. Evidence grade: medium. 1 of 1 listed sources are fully documented; the rest are names only. Method and sources
Methodology Notes
- Estimation method:
- Back-projection from 1820 CE data using growth rates
- Cross-validation using trade data (Silk Road, Indian Ocean trade), urbanization data, and historical records
- Regional variation within Islamic civilization (Middle East, North Africa, Spain, Central Asia, India)
- Data quality: Medium (back-projection with cross-validation, regional variation not fully captured)
- Uncertainty range: ±20-25% (regional variation, limited direct economic data)
- Limitations:
- Back-projection assumes consistent growth patterns
- Regional variation within Islamic civilization not fully captured
- Trade vs. agricultural economy balance uncertain
- Fragmentation period (1000-1200 CE) creates regional variation
- Cross-validation:
- Trade volume estimates (Silk Road, Indian Ocean, Trans-Saharan)
- Urbanization data (Baghdad, Cordoba, Cairo, other major cities)
- Agricultural productivity (irrigation systems, crop yields)
- Fiscal records (tax revenue, where available)
Integration with Corpus
- Links to claims: Islamic Civilization as Trans-Regional Complex (supports GGS Style axis assessment)
- Supports patterns:
- Guns–Germs–Style (GGS) Axes and Success/Failure Mechanisms (high GDP supports strong Style axis - trade network integration, economic coordination)
- Fiscal Systems and State Capacity (large economy enables fiscal capacity and state coordination)
- Trade Networks as Civilizational Connectors and Transformers [trade-network-dynamics] (GDP growth indicates trade network integration and economic specialization)
- GGS implications:
- Style axis: High GDP supports strong Style axis assessment - large economy requires and demonstrates institutional capacity (trade coordination, fiscal systems, market integration, scholarly networks)
- Guns axis: Large economy enables military capacity through fiscal resources (military expenditure, infrastructure investment)
- Economic dynamism: GDP growth (0.7% annual) indicates civilizational dynamism and trade network integration
- Comparative advantage: 2nd-3rd largest global economy (800-1200 CE) indicates strong civilizational capacity and coordination
- Framework integration:
- CAD: Institutional and material domains, persistence/transformation mechanisms, Style framework
- Economic systems: Supports Economic Systems Across Civilizations with quantitative evidence
- Trade networks: Large GDP reflects trade network integration in Trade Networks as Civilizational Connectors and Transformers [trade-network-dynamics]
Notes
- Economic structure: Mixed economy with significant trade/commercial sectors and agricultural base
- Growth drivers: Trade network expansion (Silk Road, Indian Ocean, Trans-Saharan), urbanization, agricultural productivity (irrigation), technological innovation (astronomy, mathematics, medicine)
- Period variations:
- Abbasid Golden Age (800-900): Economic expansion, trade network peak, urbanization
- Regional fragmentation (1000-1200): Continued economic activity despite political fragmentation, trade networks maintain integration
- Event-data integration: GDP growth (0.7% annual) linked to Abbasid Revolution (750 CE), Golden Age (800-1000 CE), and decline linked to Mongol sack of Baghdad (1258 CE)
- Regional variation: Core regions (Middle East, North Africa) higher GDP per capita than periphery
- Trade integration: High trade-to-GDP ratio indicates strong trade network integration
- Data needs: More detailed regional GDP estimates, sectoral breakdown (agriculture/industry/trade), trade volume data, fiscal data