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The Caliphates

  • Prophet Muhammad's Death
    632

    Prophet Muhammad's Death

  • Abu Bakr becomes First Caliph
    632

    Abu Bakr becomes First Caliph

    Rashidun Caliphate. Imposed taxes to fund wars against the Byzantine & Sasanian Empires. Identified his successor
  • Period: 632 to 700

    Early Years of The Caliphate

  • Umar ibn al-Khattab
    634

    Umar ibn al-Khattab

    Second of Rashidun Caliphate. Major expansion of Islamic empire. Continued high taxes and wars against Byzantine & Sasanian empires. Institutionalized Arabic countries. Created shura to select subsequent caliphs. Assassinated by angry exiled woman
  • Uthman ibn Affan
    644

    Uthman ibn Affan

    Third Rashidun caliph. Most nepotistic. Related to The Umayyads. Defeated Sasanian empire. Revised & standardized the Qu'ran. A mutiny arose which led to his assassination
  • Ali ibn Abi Talib
    656

    Ali ibn Abi Talib

    Last of Rashidun-Sunni Caliphate. First Sha'i Imam. Muhammad's cousin & son-in-law. The first Fitnas broke out: Aisha & The Battle of the Camels, Muawiya of The Umayyads & Battle of Siffin and Battle with The Kharjites. Assassinated by a Kharjite radical. Defining moment in the split between Sunnis-Shiites
  • Husan ibn Ali
    661

    Husan ibn Ali

    Husan, the oldest son of Ali & Fatimah (Muhammad's oldest daughter) succeeded his father but was forced by Muawiyah to abdicate the caliphate. Was assassinated by one of his wives poisoning his drink
  • Muawiyah ibn Abi Sufyan
    661

    Muawiyah ibn Abi Sufyan

    After killing both Ali & his son, Hasan, Muawiyah became caliph. The first of the Umayyad clan. He was upset by the lack of response by Imam Ali in punishing his uncle Uthman's death. Muawiyah moved the capital to Damascus and ruled as a monarchy. Later appointed his son, Yazid as his successor
  • Yazid ibn Abi Sufyan
    680

    Yazid ibn Abi Sufyan

    Second Umayyad caliph who is said to have been the personification of evil and oppression for the Shiite people. He sent forces against Husayn ibn Ali at The Battle of Karbala killing the entire family marking the indefinite split between Sunni - Sha'i Muslims. After this reign, The Caliphate was ruled by dynasties, The Umayyad Dynasty was the first
  • Husayn ibn Ali
    680

    Husayn ibn Ali

    Third Shii Imam/caliph. Second son of Imam Ali & Fatimah. Brother of Imam Hasan. Was begged by the Shiite people to reclaim The Caliphate from Yazid due to gross mistreatment. Was killed at The Battle of Karbala along with all his male relatives and sainted a martyr for the Shiites.