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520
muhammad is born in mecca
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610
the region islam begins when Muhammad recives the first revelations of the Quran
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622
Muhammad and his followers move to Medina to escape persecution in Mecca. This migration becomes known as the "Hijrah" and marks the beginning of the Islamic calendar.
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630
Muhammad returns to Mecca and gains control of the city. Mecca becomes the center of the Islamic world.
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632
Muhammad dies and Abu Bakr succeeds Muhammad as leader of the Islam faith. He is the first of the four "Rightly Guided" Caliphs. This also marks the beginning of the Rashidun Caliphate.
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634
Umar becomes the second Caliph. The Islamic Empire expands during his rule to include much of the Middle East including Iraq, Egypt, Syria, and part of North Africa.
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644
Uthman becomes the third Caliph. He will create the standardized version of the Quran.
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656
Ali bin Talib becomes the fourth Caliph.
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Period: 661 to 750
The Umayyad Caliphate takes control after Ali is assassinated. They move the capital city to Damascus.
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680
Hussein, the son of Ali, is killed at Karbala.
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692
The Dome of the Rock is completed in Jerusalem.
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711
Muslims enter Spain from Morocco. They will eventually gain control of most of the Iberian Peninsula.
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732
The Islamic army pushes into France until they are defeated by Charles Martel at the Battle of Tours.
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Period: 750 to 1258
The Abbasid Caliphate takes control and builds a new capital city called Baghdad. The Islamic Empire experiences a period of scientific and artistic achievement that will later be called the Golden Age of Islam.
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780
Mathematician and scientist al-Khwarizmi is born. He is known as the "Father of Algebra."
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972
Al-Azhar University in Cairo, Egypt is founded.
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1025
Ibn Sina completes his encyclopedia of medicine called the cannon of medicine It will become the standard medical textbook throughout Europe and the Middle East for hundreds of years.
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1048
Famous poet and scientist Omar Khayyam is born.
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1099
Christian armies recapture Jerusalem during the First Crusade.
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1187
Saladin retakes the city of Jerusalem.
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1258
The Mongol army sacks the city of Baghdad destroying much of the city and killing the Caliph.
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Period: 1261 to 1517
The Abbasid Caliphate establishes the Caliphate in Cairo, Egypt. They have religious authority, but the Mamluks hold the military and political power.
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1325
Famous Muslim traveler Ibn Battuta begins his travels.
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1453
The Ottomans take the city of Constantinople bringing an end to the Byzantine Empire.
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1492
After being pushed back for centuries, the last Islamic stronghold in Spain is defeated at Granada.
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Period: 1517 to
The Ottoman Empire conquers Egypt and claims the Caliphate.
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1526
The Mughal Empire is established in India.
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1529
The Ottoman Empire is defeated at the Siege of Vienna stopping the advance of the Ottomans into Europe.
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The Taj Mahal, a tomb for the wife of the Mughal Emperor, is completed in India.
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The Caliphate is abolished by Mustafa Ataturk, the first President of Turkey.