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Jan 1, 610
Muhammad is visited by the angel Gabriel
In 610 CE, Muhammad recieved the word of Allah through the angel Gabriel. The message given to Muhammad by the angel, along with the word of several other prophets forms the basis the the Qur'an, the heart of the religion of Islam. Muhammad then began to preach his revalations to the Meccans. Muhammad and the Angel Gabriel. 16th Century. Ink on paper. Turkish Manuscript, n.p. -
Period: Jan 1, 610 to Jan 1, 632
The Journey of Muhammad
After being visited by the Angel Gabriel, Muhammad began his journey by preaching his revaltions to the people of Mecca Muhammad formed the first Muslim community in Medina with Bedouins and some residents of the city. After becoming the head of a military force, Muhammad traveled back to Mecca, conquered the city, converted the townspeople, and declared the Ka'aba a sacred shrine of Islam. He died two years later without naming a successor, causing significant
discord in the Muslim community. -
Jan 1, 622
Muhammad's Hegira
Muhammad traveled from Mecca to Medina in the year 622 after becoming increasingly discouraged by his lack of suppot from the Meccans. This iconic journey is called the "Hegira" or "Hijran." http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-S5-I4GwZm6A/UL-Yrjfti5I/AAAAAAAAXoY/9cLOgU9YnOk/s1600/Muhammad+with+his+father-in-law,+Abu+Bakr,+and+his+son-in-law,+Ali.jpg -
Jan 1, 623
Foundation of the First Muslim Community
Upon arriving in Medina in 622, Muhammad began promoting Islam to the Jews. Though he did not win the support of the Jews, Muhammad succeeded in winning the loyalty of members of surrounding Bedouin tribes and some residents of the city. These people formed the first Muslim community, the umma. http://zombietime.com/mohammed_image_archive/islamic_mo_face_hidden/Siyer-i_Nebi_9.jpg -
Period: Jan 1, 632 to Jan 1, 661
The Rightly Guided Caliphs
After disagreement over Muhammad's successor, the Caliphate, the leader of the Islamic community, was formed. The Rightly Guided Caliphs (Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman, Ali, and Mu'awiya) immediately succeeded Muhammad. They were benevolent rulers who unified the community, thus creating the Islamic Empire. In this era of the Islamic Empire, the Muslim rulers began to focus on the expansion of the culture in the name of religion. -
Jan 1, 661
Foundation of the Umayyad Rule
When Ali was assasinated in 661, Mu'awiya, a member of the Umayyad family, replaced him as caliph. Mu'awiya made the caliphate hereditary in his own family which began the Umayyad dynasty. Mu'awiya moved the capital to Damascus which was the base of his loyal army. http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8a/Abdul_al_Rahman_I.jpg -
Period: Jan 1, 661 to Jan 1, 750
Umayyad Rule
Beginning with the caliph Mu'awiya, the Umayyads ruled for nearly one century. The biggest acconplishment of the Umayyads was the spread the Islamic Empire to parts of Europe, Africa, Mesopotamia and Persia. Because of the decadent lifestyles they lived, the Umayyads earned the resentment of the Muslims, which lead to the end of their rule. resentment of many Muslims, leading to the demise of the era. -
Jan 1, 732
High Point of European Expansion
The spread of the Islamic Empire in Europe ended upon the defeat of Arab horsemen by the army of Charles Martel at the Battle of Poitiers. http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e7/Steuben_-_Bataille_de_Poitiers.png -
Jan 1, 750
The Ummayads are Overthrown
In the year 750, the Umayyads were overthrown by a revolt led by Abu al-Abbas. Abu al-Abbas then established the Abbasid caliphate, a prosperous era for the Islam community. http://ar.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=%D9%85%D9%84%D9%81:%D8%A3%D8%A8%D9%88_%D8%A8%D9%83%D8%B1_%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B5%D8%AF%D9%8A%D9%82.gif&filetimestamp=20120302194006& -
Period: Jan 1, 750 to
Abbasid Dynasty
The Abbasid dynasty, established 750 CE, brought great change to the Islamic community in political, cultural, and economic forms. They allowed all Muslims to hold public office which helped open the Islamic culture to the cultures of occupied territories. The Abbasids built a new capital in Baghdad in 762 which allowed them to take advantage of both river and caravan trade routes. The death of Harun, the
final Abbasid caliph, brought conflict between his sons, leading to the slowing of society -
Jan 1, 1037
Introduction of the Seljuk Turks
Beginning in the eleventh century, the population of the Seljuk Turks, who served in the Arab military in the Abbasid caliphate, drastically increased in Iran and Armenia. By the end of the century, the Turks were able to occupy certain areas of the Abbasid Empire. http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cd/Seljuqs_Eagle.svg/934px-Seljuqs_Eagle.svg.png -
Jan 1, 1055
The Capture of Baghdad
In the year 1055, the city of Baghdad was captured by a Turkish ruler who became known as the sultan. The capital was then moved from Baghdad which began to lose its glory. The rule of the Turks, which was not welcomed by Muslims, was commonly viewed as barbaric. In reality, it was beneficial to the Islamic culture. The Turks managed to end the fighting between Sunni and Shi'ite Muslims, and they revitalized Islamic law and instirutions. http://www.pointd -
Jan 1, 1055
The Rule of the Turks
The rule of the Turks, which was not welcomed by Muslims, was commonly viewed as barbaric. In reality, the rule of the Turks was beneficial to the Islamic culture. The Turks managed to end the fighting between Sunni and Shi'ite Muslims, and they revitalized Islamic law and instirutions. When the Turks defeated the Byzantines in Manzikert and took control of the Anatolian peninsula, the Byzantines were
enraged. They soon began to set in motion the Crusades. http://www.shsu.edu/~his_ncp/Islam.jp -
Aug 26, 1071
The Battle of Manzikert
When the Turks defeated the Byzantines in Manzikert, the Byzantines sought advice from the Pope. Angered by their defeat and loss of the Anatolian peninsula, this event incited the Crusades. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:131_Bataille_de_Malazgirt.jpg -
Jan 1, 1096
The First Crusade
Threated by the Muslims, the Christians began a series of invasions of the Islamic territories in 1096. By 1099, Christians had successfully captured Jerusalem. http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5c/1099jerusalem.jpg -
Jan 1, 1300
Works Cited
Duiker, William J., and Jackson J. Spielvogel. The Essential
World History. 6th ed. Vol. 1. Belmont, CA:
Thomson/Wadsworth, 2005. Print.
Little, Donald P. "Caliphate." Encyclopedia Britannica
Online. Encyclopedia Britannica, n.d. Web. 02 Apr. 2014.
"The Rightly Guided Caliphs." Mission Islam. Mission Islam,
n.d. Web. 2 Apr. 2014. http://jasoncohoon.files.wordpress.com/2013/07/islam-emblem.gif -
Death of Harun
Upon the death of Harun, his two sons fought over the throne, destroying Baghdad in the process. The immense wealth of the caliphate brought financial and political corruption. The Abbasid rule had by this time begun to give important political positions to court favorites which began to undermine the power of the caliph. These poor qualitiies brought about
the beginning of the disintegration of the spread of Islam. http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d9/Harun-Charlemagne.jpg -
Period: to
The Golden Age of the Abbasid Caliphate
The reign of Harun al-Rashid is considered the Golden Age of the Abbasid caliphate. His reign was a time of economic and cultural prosperity. No other caliph surrounded himself with as many artists, poets, and scholars. Upon his death, his two sons
fought over the throne, destroying Baghdad in the process.
