Final answer:
Carolingian Society in the early Middle Ages was characterized by a feudal, decentralized political system and a Christian, Latin-focused cultural revival, while the Abbasid Islamic Caliphate exhibited a more unified political and religious governance and a culturally diverse and scientifically advanced society.
Step-by-step explanation:
Comparing and contrasting two main features of Carolingian Society and the Abbasid Islamic Caliphate illustrates both similarities and differences in the early Middle Ages (ca. 800 AD).
Political Structure
The Carolingian Empire, under Charlemagne, was characterized by a centralized authority with the King at the top, delegating power to lords over various regions. On the other hand, the Abbasid Caliphate exhibited a more unified political and religious governance, with the Caliph serving as both a spiritual and political leader, advised by scholars and officials, which allowed for a more cosmopolitan and bureaucratic administration than the feudal Carolingian structure.
Cultural and Religious Influence
Culturally, the Carolingians attempted to revive classical learning through the Carolingian Renaissance, promoting Latin culture and Christianity. The Abbasids, by contrast, presided over a golden age of Islamic culture, promoting scientific and philosophical inquiry and embracing Persian influence, seen in their capital city of Baghdad, a hub of scholarship and trade. This created a society that was more culturally diverse and advanced in certain sciences compared to the Carolingian realm.