he conquered over the victors, had already for a long while
been in course of preparation; it became complete when the ABBASIDS,
who owed their elevation to the Persians, ascended the throne (A.D.
749). The most distinguished personages at court were consequently
Persians. The famous BARMECIDES were descended from a Persian noble
who had been superintendent of the Fire Temple at BALKH. AFSHIN, the
all-powerful favorite of the Caliph AL-MUTASIM, was a scion of the
Princes of USRUSHNA in Transoxiana."--DOZY, "Histoire de
l'Islamisme".]

[Footnote 7: "With the rise of PERSIAN influence, there opened an era
of culture, toleration, and scientific research. The practice of oral
tradition was also giving place to recorded statement and historical
narrative,--a change hastened by the scholarly tendencies introduced
from the East."--SIR WILLIAM MUIR, on the rise of the Abbasid
Dynasty.]

The fusion of MUHAMMADAN doctrine with this Aryan (Persian) culture of
old,[8] is an important event in the history of Art. For out of this
fusion came forth into being a new phase of artistic expression
completely different, in form and spirit, from its predecessors.
Probably of equal importance is the fact that, although practised by
divers races and subjected to many developments, fluctuations and
variations, it has retained throughout the centuries its identical
characteristics. What was the vital force that brought about this
cultural evolution and unification? The answer appears to be RELIGION,
as we shall see.

[Footnote 8: "PERSIAN influence increased at the court of the CALIPHS,
and reached its zenith under AL-HADI, HARUNU'R-RASHID, and AL-MAMUN.
Most of the ministers of the last were PERSIANS or of PERSIAN
extraction. In BAGHDAD, PERSIAN fashions continued to enjoy an
increasing ascendancy. The old PERSIAN festivals of the NAWRUZ,
MIHRGAN, and RAM were celebrated. PERSIAN raiment was the official
court dress, and the tall, black, conical PERSIAN hats were already
prescribed as official by the second ABBASID Caliph (in A.H. 153: A.D.
770). At the court the customs of the SASSANIAN Kings were imitated,
and garments decorated with golden inscriptions were introduced, which
it was the exclusive privilege of the ruler to bestow. A coin of the
Caliph AL-MUTAWAKKIL shows us this Prince actually clothed in true
PERSIAN fashions".--VON KREMER, Streitzuge, page 32.]

The foundation of the MUHAMMADAN EMPIRE was RELIGION. It was to the
Holy