Which research library, staffed by muslim scholars, became a great center of learning in medieval times? a. the dome of the rock b. the library of alexandria c. the house of wisdom d. the hagia sophia

The right answer is the C: The House of Wisdom, which was based in Baghdad. It was founded by the Abbasid Caliph (an Arab leader) Harun al-Rashid in the 9th century, and it was completed by his son, Caliph al-Mamun, during the so-called Golden Age of Islam. Famous Muslim, but also Hindu, Jewish and Christian scholars, worked there and translated into Arabic an endless number of scientific, philosophical and medical works - the building even included areas for them to live. The library, which stopped existing abruptly in 1258, when the Mongols invaded Baghdad, can be compared, in scope, resources, and status, to the most distinguished libraries that exist in the world nowadays, such as the British Library in London.