-
The Ottoman Empire reached the peak of its power during the rule of Selim's son, Suleiman the Magnificent (ruled 1520 -66) and his grandson Selim II. Suleiman becomes ruler of the Ottoman empire. During his reign, the empire grows and enjoys a golden age.
-
Another Mongol leader, Timur the Lame, or Tamerlane, led his armies into the Middle East. Though he was a Muslim, Tamberlane's ambitions led him to conquer Muslim as well as non-Muslim lands.
-
Hulagu, grandson Genghiz, burned and looted Baghdad, killing the last Abbassid caliph.
-
Genghiz Khan led Mongols out of Central Asia across Persia and Mesopotamia. Mongol armies returned again and again.
-
The Muslim general Salah al-Din, or Saladin, ousted Christians from Jerusalem.
-
After a long bloody seige, Christian crusaders from Europe captured Jerusalem from the Muslims.
-
Reports of Seljuk interference with Christian pilgrims traveling to Jerusalem led Popo Urban II to call for the First Crusade.
-
Seljuk sultan, or authority, controlled Baghdad, but he left the Abbassid caliph as a figurehead. As the Seljuks pushed into Asia Minor, they threatened the Byzantine empire.
-
The Seljuk Turks migrated into the Middle East from Central Asia. They adopted Islam and built a large empire across the Fertile Crescent.
-
Abbassid control over the Arab empire fragmented. In Spain, Egypt, and elsewhere, independent dynasties ruled separate Muslim states.
-
A lot of Muslims did not like the Umayyads, so some discontented Muslims found a leader Abu al-Abbas, who captured Damascus. Abu al-Abbas establishes the Abbasid dynasty. Over the next several centuries, Muslim merchant ships travel around the Abbasid empire and beyond.
-
Muslim armies were defeated at the battle of Tours. The Muslim advance into Western Europe was halted.
-
Muslim armies crossed the Strait of Gibraltar into Spain and pushed north into France.
-
Ali was murdered, buried in Iraq (now a pilgrimage site). Sunnis : followers of the 3rd Caliph of Muhammed and of elected leaders thereafter capital of empire moved to Damascus, location more central, also provided greater contact with Hellenic civilization and the still existing reservoirs of western and ancient knowledge. Ommayad Dynasty-a member of the dynasty that ruled at Damascus a.d. 661–750, claiming descent from Omayya, cousin of the grandfather of Muhammad the Prophet.
-
Death of Muhammad
