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Period: 517 to Jan 1, 632
Key Points in Muhammad's Life
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Jan 1, 610
Muhammad's First Vision
Muhammad, who is credited for uniting the Arab world, was troubled by the growing gap between the Bedoiun values and the behavior of the commercial elites in the city. As a result, he retreated to the hills to meditate in isolation and that was where he encountered the angel Gabriel. Gabriel told Muhammad that he was to preach the revelations he was given and pass on the message of Allah. The result of his revelations was the Qur'an, the sacred book of Islam. -
Jan 1, 620
The Dome of the Rock
The Dome of the Rock is a shrine in Jerusalem where Muhammad ascended into heaven. It is where he had his night journey and saw all the prophets before him. -
Jan 1, 622
The Hegira
In 622, Muhammad and his closest followers left the city of Mecca and traveled to Yathrib (AKA Medina). This flight is known as the Hegira. As a result, the first muslim community was formed, known as the Umma, that consisted of a mixture of Medina citizens and Bedouins. Muhammad returned to Mecca and conquered it and converted all the townspeople to a new faith. -
Apr 2, 630
Ka'Aba
Muhammad declared the Ka'Aba a central shrine of worship in Mecca in 630 and two years later he died, just when Islam was beginning to spread. -
Jan 1, 636
The Caliph
After Muhammad's death, his followers selected Abu Bakr as caliph. The caliph was the leader of the Islamic community. Under Bakr, the factional disputes were suppressed and the Arabs became unified and an empire was created. -
Period: Jan 1, 636 to Jan 1, 1055
The Arab Empire
The death of Muhammad led to the delimma of selecting a successor, since he naver named one. They appointed Abu Bakr. The Arab Empire faced many factional disputes, succession problems, and experienced the rise of the Umayyads and the Abbasids. -
Period: Jan 1, 636 to Jan 1, 650
Creation of an Empire
Explanations for rapid expansion in the 7th century, could have been the prolonged drought on the peninsula or that it was deliberately planned by ruling elites. Resulting in the unification of the Bedouin peoples and the creation of a srtong Arab army. Although struggles within the empire gave rise to the Umayyads. -
Jan 1, 661
Mu'awiya
After Ali was assainated, and Mu'awiya, the governor of Syria, took office. As a result, he made the caliphate hereditary in his own family, called the Umayyads. The new caliphate moved its capital to Damascus. -
Period: Jan 1, 661 to Jan 1, 750
The Umayyads
The main challenege of this empire came from within. At the beginning of the 8th century, they expanded to both the eastern and western ends of the Mediterranean world. They conquered Berbers, Southern Spain, and most of the Iberian Peninsula and failed to conquer the Byzantine empire, which resulted in an uneasy frontier between them. -
Jan 1, 710
Arab Forces
In 710, Arab forces crossed the Strait of Gibraltar and occupied southern Spain. -
Period: Jan 1, 717 to Jan 1, 750
Succession Problems
Factional disputes still continued to plague the empire because many non-Arab muslims resented the favoritism shown to Arabs. This resulted in many revolts and sparked the rivalry between a group known as the Shi'ites and another group called the Sunni. Finally a revolt in 750, led by Abu al-Abbas led to the overthrow of the Umayyads. -
Jan 1, 732
Battle of Poiters
Arab army defeated by the army of Charles Martel. Battle of Poiters was the "high-water" mark of Arab expansion in Europe. -
Period: Jan 1, 750 to Jan 1, 1258
Abbasid Dynasty
The Abbasids brought about political, economical, and cultural change. They kept it equal between Arab and non-Arab muslims. Arabs began to intermarry and the "golden age" was brought about during this time, creating peace. -
Jan 1, 762
New Capital
In 762, the Abbasids moved the capital to Baghdad. They chose it because it was strategically positioned. And it allowed Persian influence to come down and spread their culture. Resulting in Baghdad becoming a huge commercial market, adding wealth to the Islamic world. -
Period: Jan 1, 1055 to Jan 1, 1258
The Seljuk Turks
The Abbasid caliphate faced threats from the Seljuk turks, a nomadic peoples from central Asia. Seljuk Turks had converted to Islam and were military mercenaries. In 1055, Baghdad was captured by one of the Turkish leaders with the title of "Sultan." -
Jan 1, 1071
Byzantines and the Turks
The Byzantines challeneged the Turks and the Turks were winning so the Byzantines ended up heading west to as for asssistance. The result was that this led to the Crusades. -
Jan 1, 1096
Christian Incursions
Christiian incursions began around 1096 on Islamic territories and this brought about the Crusades. -
Jan 1, 1169
End of the Fatimid Dynasty
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Jan 1, 1258
End of the Caliphate
The end of the caliphate began when Mongol armies began to spread all over and when Hulegu seized Persia and Mesopotamia it resulted in the end of the caliphate. -
Sources
http://www.biblewalks.com/Sites/DomeRock.html The Essential World History Textbook -
Fragmentation of the Islamic Empire
As result of the fragmentation, Morocco became independent in 973 and a new Shi'ite dynasty, under the Fatimids, was developed in Egypt with its capital at Cairo. -
Period: to Jan 1, 1258
Instability and Division
Instability and Division brought about the end of the caliphate. The lack of spiritual authority weakened the caliphate and disputes about succession after Harun's death came about. His 2 sons created a civil war and caused the destruction of Baghdad. Also provincial rulers began to stray from central control and establish their own independent states. -
Period: to
The Golden Age of the Abbasids
The best known caliph, Harun al-Rashid, reigned in the golden age of the Abbasids. It was called the golden age because peace was brought about and this period consisted of growing economic prosperity. Baghdad was the center of trade and paper and other things were introduced from other countries. The caliphs became more "temporal" than religious and ruled aristocratically. Although that caused a little instability.