The Harbiyah District is the starting region in Assassin's Creed Mirage. While the game's prologue starts elsewhere, it's in Harbiyah that the game first becomes a true open world and players can start gathering collectibles.
One such collectible is the historical sites. The developers of Assassin's Creed Mirage did a lot of historical research to create an Abbasid-era Baghdad, and historical sites are their way of sharing some of that research in a way that engages players. Harbiyah is home to a total of 13 historical sites, and players will find them scattered all throughout the district.
The Harbiyah Map
While players don't have to get close to historical sites to make them show up on the map the way they do with gear chests or enigmas, it can still be hard to find them all since they only appear in revealed areas and only at the closest zoom level. This map shows all 13 historical sites in Harbiyah marked in red.
Kalila and Dimna
This historical site is inside a small room on the west end of the district. There are two doors on each side of the room, and while one of them is barred the other one isn't. This room is also home to one of the Harbiyah enigmas. The codex entry for this site explains that Kalila and Dimna are two characters from stories written to help the sons of caliphs learn how to rule the Abbasid Empire.
Hajj (Pilgrimage to Mecca)
This historical site is on the roof of the Great Mosque. It describes the Hajj, the pilgrimage to Mecca that most Muslims are expected to undergo at least once in their lives.
Pillars of Islam
The other historical site in the Great Mosque sits right in the entrance. The Pillars of Islam are the core tenants of the faith, which include devotion to God, prayer, charity, a month of fasting, and the Hajj.
Prisons
Players will find this historical site on the street in front of the Damascus Gate Prison. Abbasid prisons were miserable places, but they mostly held debtors and minor offenders since execution was a common punishment for serious crimes.
Abbasid Revolution
Head across the bridge to the Damascus Gate of Baghdad to find this historical site. It's just out of range of where the guards become hostile. This site describes how the Abbasid dynasty overthrew the previous Umayyad Caliphate after they tried and failed to end a revolt in North Africa.
Emporium of the World
This may be the first historical site players come across, because it sits just inside the gate where players start after leaving Alamut. As the center of an empire that sat on the crossroads between East and West, Baghdad markets sold exotic wares like Russian furs, African ivory, Indian spices, and Chinese ceramics.
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Ceramics and Lustrewares
This site is in the northwest corner of the Metal Factory area. It mentions that Abbasid artisans started out by copying Chinese porcelain, but over time they created a special lusterware that added a metallic sheen to their ceramics.
The Banu Musa Brothers
To find this historical site, go into the Harbiyah Hidden Ones Bureau and climb up to the second floor. The glowing dot is in a storage room on the left. Its codex entry describes the Banu Musa brothers, a set of brothers who got a good education at the House of Wisdom and made their marks in both scientific and political arenas.
Alcohol Production and Consumption
Head north towards the Nestorian Monastery to find this historical site in the middle of the vineyards. While the Prophet Mohammad was fairly clear about prohibiting alcohol, many Muslim societies, including the Abbasid Caliphate, have found ways to bend the rules and enjoy a few drinks.
Maritime Trading
Look for this historical site on a rooftop northwest of the docks. Thanks to the Tigris River, a lot of the trade and wealth of Baghdad arrived on ships that crossed the Indian Ocean and even traveled as far as Indonesia.
Expansion of Islam Through Trade
Look for a pagoda full of goods just north of the eastern Harbiyah viewpoint to find this site. Because Islam includes a useful code of mercantile ethics, the religion spread peacefully through trade lanes and not just through imperial conquests.
Greeks Bearing Gifts
This site is in front of a small stage in the plaza near the Prince's Palace. It mentions that the Abbasid Empire received plenty of exotic gifts and delegations from distant empires that wanted to make use of its military might or trade connections.
A Difficult Succession
The final historical site in Harbiyah is by the steps that lead to the Prince's Palace. It's just far enough from the guards for them to yell but not attack. It describes how any male member of the Abbasid dynasty could become caliph, and while some successions were quick and orderly, many more resulted in civil wars, assassinations, and coups.
Assassin's Creed Mirage is available now on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
