Final answer:
Both Córdoba and Baghdad were intellectual centers with libraries and scholars conducting research. They attracted scholars, fostered cultural exchange, and promoted intellectual developments.
Step-by-step explanation:
Both Córdoba and Baghdad were important intellectual centers during their respective historical periods.
In Córdoba, the Great Mosque served not only as a religious place of worship but also as an educational institution with a vast library. This library contained approximately 400,000 books and scholars conducted cutting-edge research in various fields, including medicine. They quickly adopted and responded to intellectual developments from other places, such as Baghdad.
Similarly, in Baghdad, the culture and status of the city during the Abbasid period were comparable to living in New York City. Baghdad became a cosmopolitan city, known for its learning, commerce, and trade. The city attracted scholars from different cultures and facilitated the exchange of ideas in salons.