Islam Timeline

632

Jan 1, 632

Muhammad dies. Abu Bakr continues Muhammed's work. This is important because Muhammed's teachings will abandoned and the word of God will continue to be taught.

661

Jan 1, 661

Ali, the fourth caliph, is assassinated in a struggle for leadership. The battle between Sunni and Shiite resulted in many Muslims dying which declined Islam. But this also resulted in the creation of the Sufi faction which spread Islam through missionary work.

711

Jan 1, 711

Muslims crossed the Strait of Gibraltar into Spain and into France. This allows Muhammed's teachings to be spread throughout Europe.

732

Jan 1, 732

Muslims were defeated in the Battle of Tours. This halts their advance into western Europe and prevents them from conquering more countries in Europe

750

Jan 1, 750

Was the end of the rule of the Umayyad dynasty.
Muslims found a leader in Abu al- Abbas who defeated Damascus. The Abbassid dynasty helped make Islam a universal religion because it ended the Arab dominance. This helped Islam spread.

850

Jan 1, 850

-Abassid controlled over the Arib empire fragment.
-Spain, Egypt, and elsewhere, independent dynasties, ruled separate Muslim states. Civil wars erupted and Shiite rulers took over parts of the empire. This stunted the growth of Islam because many Muslims died in the civil wars.

900

Jan 1, 900

The Seljuk Turks migrated into the Middle East from Central Asia. They adopted Islam and built a large empire across the Fertile Crescent. This is significant because it allowed Islam to spread throughout the Middle East

1055

Jan 1, 1055

A Seljuk sultan controlled Baghdad, but left the Abbassid caliph as a figure head. This allows the Seljuk's to adopted Islam and conquer Asia, thus spreading Islam.

1095

Jan 1, 1095

Reports of Seljuk interference with Christian pilgrims traveling to Jerusalem led Pope Urban II to call for the First Crusade. The spread of Christianity was slowed, therefore Islam was more dominant.

1099

Jan 1, 1099

Christian Crusaders captured Jerusalam. For 150 years, the city is passed between Christians and Muslims. This prohibits Islam from taking over the city.

1187

Jan 1, 1182

The Muslim general Salah al-Din expelled Christians from Jerusalem. This removed Christianity from Jerusalem which allowed Muslims to takeover.

1216

Jan 1, 1216

Genghiz Khan led the Mongols out of Central Asia across Persia and Mesopotamia. Mongol armies returned again and again. Islam spread to Mongols after Hulagu killed the last Abbassid caliph. It is important because the army converted but also destroyed the temples

1258

Jan 1, 1258

Hulagu, the grandson of Genghiz, burned and looted Baghdad, killing the last Abbassid caliph. The Mongols adopted Islam, which makes it spread.

1300's

Jan 1, 1300

Another Mongol leader, Timur the Lame, or Tamerlane, led his armies into the middle east. His goal was to conquer Muslim and non-Muslim lands. This prevents Islam from spreading because even though Timur the Lame was Muslim, he overran Islamic countries.

1492

Jan 1, 1492

Christians seized the last Muslim stronghold after centuries of fighting to reconquer Spain. Spaniards originally adopted Islam because Muslim rules were more forgiving than Christian rulers. Many countries adopted Islam because of this, which allowed it to spread even more.

1520

Jan 1, 1520

Suleiman becomes ruler of the Ottoman empire. During his reign, the empire grows and enjoys a golden age. This is significant because it allowed the empire to grow which spread Islam.