The Zanj Rebellion
East African slaves hold southern Iraq for 14 years
The Zanj, East African slaves who drained the salt flats of southern Iraq, rose under Ali ibn Muhammad. They built their own capital, al-Mukhtara, and sacked Basra in 871. It took the Abbasids 14 years to crush one of the largest slave revolts in history.
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Meanwhile around the world (±25 years)
Eastern Europe & Russia
- c. 862 Calling of the Varangians — 7 years earlier
- 882 Oleg takes Kiev — 13 years later
Africa
- 859 Fatima al-Fihri founds al-Qarawiyyin — 10 years earlier
Asia
- c. 850 Prambanan — 19 years earlier
- 868 The Diamond Sutra is printed — 1 year earlier
Alive at the time
- Charles the Bald (aged 46)
- Rurik (aged 39)
- Oleg the Wise (aged 24)
- Alfred the Great (aged 20)