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Jun 8, 632
Death of Mohammed
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Period: Dec 31, 632 to Jan 1, 634
Reign of Caliph Abu Bakr
Abu Bakr's rule was short but crucial. Tribes who believed they had pledged allegience only to Mohammed began to revolt to gain former independence. Abu Bakr used wisdom and leniency to continue unifying Arabia. Ghazu raids increased during this time period. -
Period: Jan 2, 634 to Dec 31, 644
Reign of Umar ibn Al-Khattab
Umar turned ghazu raids against non-Muslims in places such as Iraq, Syria, Egypt, and later the Persian Empire. He encountered stiff resistance in the Byzantine Empire. -
Dec 31, 644
Assassination of Umar ibn Al-Khattab
Umar is stabbed to death in the mosque in Medina by a Persian prisoner of war. -
Period: Dec 31, 644 to Feb 7, 656
Reign of Uthman ibn Affan
Uthman gained much new territory with Cyprus and Tripoli. However, he isolated other Muslims do to his practice of nepotism. -
Feb 7, 656
Assassination of Uthman ibn Affar
A group of unhappy Arab soldiers mutiny against Uthman and murder him in his Medina home. -
Period: Feb 7, 656 to Jan 22, 661
Reign of Ali ibn Abi Talib
Ali was married to Fatima and did not avenge Uthman's death. He ruled during the Fitnah, a five year civil war with a name that translates to "time of temptation". Uthman's family did not think he had the right to be caliph; as a result, he was unpopular in Syria. -
Jan 22, 661
Assassination of Ali ibn Abi Talib
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Period: Nov 26, 661 to Jan 22, 750
Umayyad Dynasty
Began after the last Caliph. Moved the capital from Medina to Damascus because they felt it was more politically expedient for them and because they could direct military action and conquest from there. They relied on locals to run things and Shiite Muslims especially despised them because they felt they dishonored everything Mohammed had called for. -
Jan 22, 750
Murder of the Umayyad Family
The Abbassid Dynasty took over in Damascus and killed the family at a banquet. At this point in type, the assassination of a noble family in this way was unthinkable. -
Period: Jan 22, 750 to May 12, 1258
The Abbassid Dynasty
This dynasty led to a domination by northern groups as opposed to the traditional Arab leaders. Persian traders strongly influenced the Abbassid Dynasty. Islam became a universal religion, and philosophers flocked to Abbassid's court. -
May 12, 1258
Mongols take over
Hulagu, Ghengis Khan's grandson, burned and looted Baghdad and killed the last Caliph. The Mongols also adopted Islam. -
Seljuk Turks migrate to Baghdad
While the Caliph system was beginning to decline, the Seljuk Turks migrated in. They converted to Islam and took control of Baghdad. -
Period: to
Baghdad and Harun al-Rashid
Baghdad reaches its peak under Harun al-Rashid's rule, and his reign was symbolic of wealth and splendor.
