Which dynasty did the Abbasids overthrow in 750?

• A. Umayyads
• B. Fatimids
• C. Ayyubids
• D. Sassanids

Answer: (A)

This question tests a major dynastic shift in early Islamic history—the Abbasid Revolution. In 750, the Abbasids overthrew the Umayyad Caliphate, ending their rule that had dominated the Islamic empire since the 660s. The Abbasids drew support from non-Arab Muslims and other groups dissatisfied with Umayyad Arab-centric policies, and their victory culminated in the defeat of the Umayyads at the Battle of the Zab. After taking control, they established a new caliphate with its power base eventually centered in Baghdad, marking a shift in political and cultural life across the Islamic world.

The other dynasties listed are from different contexts: the Fatimids rose later in Ifriqiya, not by overthrowing the Umayyads in 750; the Ayyubids emerged in the 12th century under Saladin; and the Sassanids were a pre-Islamic Persian empire that was conquered by early Islamic forces long before the Abbasid Revolution.