Which event marked the beginning of the Islamic Golden Age?

The beginning of the Islamic Golden Age is most closely associated with the rise of the Abbasid Caliphate. This period, which spanned from the 8th to the 14th centuries, is characterized by significant advancements in various fields such as science, philosophy, medicine, and the arts within the Islamic world. The Abbasids moved the capital from Damascus to Baghdad, which became a cultural and intellectual center, attracting scholars, poets, and thinkers from diverse backgrounds. This environment fostered innovation and the exchange of ideas, setting the foundation for remarkable achievements that would influence many civilizations.

While the establishment of the Umayyad Caliphate laid important groundwork for the Islamic state and its early expansion, it is the Abbasid period that truly catalyzed the intellectual and cultural flourishing known as the Islamic Golden Age. The death of Muhammad signifies the end of a prophetic era but does not directly correlate with the cultural and intellectual achievements that define the Golden Age. The conquest of Mecca, while significant in Islamic history, primarily relates to the establishment of Islam rather than the subsequent cultural and intellectual renaissance. Thus, the rise of the Abbasid Caliphate is rightly identified as the pivotal moment that initiated the Islamic Golden Age.