Download Early Arab Islamic Military Conquest and Expansion Timeline 2015

Early Arab Islamic Military Conquest and Expansion Timeline
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570CE: Mohammed born in Mecca
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Arabian Peninsula dominated by the Byzantines, Persians, and Ethiopians.
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595CE: At the age of twenty five marries a wealthy forty year old widow named Khadija.
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610CE: Received his first revelation from God through the angel Gabriel.
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620CE: Hijra (Migration from Mecca to Medina) (Start of the Calendar)
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622CE: Medina (Yathrib) becomes the capital of the Caliphate.
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630CE: Mecca captured by Muslims.
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632CE: Mohammed died.
Ridda Wars
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Abu Bakr of the Umayyad clan becomes the next Caliph.
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Various other prophets and successors to the prophet challenged Bakr’s authority.
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Various Caliphs are assassinated accompanied by inter-clan war.
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Eventually the Umayyads exert their authority (they win the war).
Shia and Sunni Islam: Basic Theological and Political Differences
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Shia believe that the Caliph must be a direct relative or descendent of the family of Mohammed.
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E.g.: Ali (Mohammed’s cousin and son in law) was the rightful Caliph after the death of the
prophet not Abu Bakr.
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Hussain, Ali’s son, led an uprising against the Umayyads in 680CE. He and his followers were
massacred. Hussain is now revered as a Shia saint.
Arab Islamic Military Expansion
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Rapid expansion led by Arab military conquests.
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641CE: “Fertile Crescent” and Egypt conquered mostly from the Byzantines.
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651CE: All of Persia conquered.
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654CE: All of North Africa except for Morocco conquered.
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669CE: Morocco falls to Arab Islamic armies
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710CE: Invasion of Spain begins
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711CE: Islamic armies begin the conquest of Afghanistan.
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717CE: The attempted capture of Constantinople fails.
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718CE: Almost the entire Iberian Peninsula is under Islamic control.
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732CE: The Islamic invasion of France is halted at the Battle(s) of Poitiers, Tours, and Avignon by
Charles Martel leader of the Franks. Retreat to Spain.
Umayyad Caliphate / Dynasty
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Clan rivalry amongst Arabs.
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Umayyads close relatives of Mohammed. After Mohammed’s death established an Arab Islamic
Caliphate with its capital at Damascus that ruled until 750CE.
• Abassid Caliphate / Dynasty
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Abassid clan also related to Mohammed.
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Overthrew the Umayyads in 750CE, massacred nearly all of them, and controlled all of the
Islamic world except for Spain.
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Moved the capital to Baghdad.
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Technically, they ruled until 1258CE when Baghdad and Abassid power destroyed by the
Mongols. However, in reality numerous kingdoms dominated by Islam had already broken free
from Abassid control.