In 737, the Abbasid Caliphate was firmly established in the region of modern-day Iraq, following the Umayyad Caliphate's decline. This period marked a significant shift in Islamic governance and culture, as the Abbasids promoted knowledge, arts, and literature. The capital, Baghdad, became a center for intellectual and cultural exchange, influencing poets and scholars across the Islamic world and beyond.

The Abbasid era is renowned for its literary flourishing, giving rise to poets like Al-Mutanabbi, whose works reflected the complexities of identity and power. The establishment of the caliphate also led to the creation of the House of Wisdom in Baghdad, where scholars translated and preserved classical texts, enriching the poetic and literary traditions that would influence later European literature.