-
570
Muhammad is born.
Muhammad is born to a merchant family in Mecca, and his parents die not much later, so he goes to livewith his uncle. -
Jan 1, 610
Muhammad speaks to Gabriel
At the age of 40, during a time of meditation, Muhammad is visited by the angel Gabriel, and told that he is the last prophet of God. Muhammad is given the first rules of the Qu'ran. -
Jan 1, 622
Muhammad goes to Medina
After being persecuted in Mecca, Muhammad and his followers migrate to Medina, where they are able to really start to turn Islam in to a real religion, as they gather new converts from the tribes surrounding their new area. The Islamic calendar begins here. -
Oct 3, 630
Muhammad returns to Mecca
Muhammad returns to Mecca, bringing many of his new followers with him. The majority of the city then converts to Islam, and Muhammad dedicates the Kaaba to Allah. This is where the pilgramage to Mecca comes from. -
Oct 3, 633
Abu Bakr becomes first Calilph
Muhammad dies, and a new leader of Islam needs to be chosen. The first consideration goes to Ali, who is Muhammads closest suitable relation. He is dismissed however, on the basis of being too young, and Muhammad's father in law, Abu Bakr is chosen. -
Oct 3, 636
Arabs defeat the Byzantine Army
History of Byzantine empireThe Arabs, in their conquests for expansion and treasure, defeat the Byzantine Army by taking the province of Syria. -
Oct 3, 661
Beggining of Umayyad caliphate
Imam Ali is killed and the Umayyad caliphate takes charge, and proceedes to rule over islam for nearly 100 years. -
Jan 1, 711
Muhammad ibn Qasim leads muslim assult on Sind.
When pirates attacked a ship sailing from Sind, taht was owned by Arab traders, the viceroy of the eastern provinces of the Umayyad Empires was prompted to launch a punitive expedition against the king of Sind. Muhammad ibn Qasim led more than 10,000 mounted soliders into Sind, and won. Afterwards he declared the region, as well as the Indus valley, provinces of the Umayyad Empire. The Umayyad's were merciful rulers of the new area and decided to treat Buddhists and Hindus as people of the book. -
Oct 3, 750
Abbasid Caliphate Begins
Observe.The abbasid caliphate begins. This time under the Abbasid's is a time of great productivity, and inventions. New ideas arive and old ideas are recovered. Scholars and military thrive for a time. -
Jan 1, 1055
Seljuk Turks brake the Buyids control over the caliphate
Another group of nomadic invaders, the Seljuk Turks, invade and replace the Buyids doing the same thing. for the next two centuries, Turkic military leaders rule the Abbasid Empire. The Seljuks were staunch Sunnis, and they quickly purged the Shi'a officials, and rid the caliph's domains of the Shi'a influences the Buyids had tried to promote. For a time, the Seljuk military machine was able to restore political initiative to the much reduced caliphate. -
Oct 3, 1096
Christian Crusaders attack
Crusades in a nutshellChristains come to reclaim the Holy Land from the Jewish and Muslim peoples that lived there. The first few crusades were very successful because they were unexpected. The following crusades were also successful, but beause the quareling Muslim Princes were much less concerned with the invading Christians than they were with each other. -
Oct 4, 1100
Christians want to trade because of the Crusades
See what the Christians gained.Christians brought back a wide variety of luxury goods, previously not known about. Beyond that they gaineda few technological and literary advancements just from coming in contact with the more advanced Islamic people. -
Harun al-Rashid takes the throne.
Since he was only 23 when he ascended to the throne, Harun became heavily dependant on his persian advisors, while he enjoyed the luxuries of the prospering kingdom. His dependance gave much more power to the advisors, until they were practiacally running the show. -
Persian Caliphs come to play central roles in imperial politics
Persian replaces Arabic as the primary written language at the Abbasid court. Literary achievements begin to happen, such as the writings of epics and writing over a wide array of subjects, previously not common practice, is beggining to occur readily. -
Buyids of Persia invade the heartlands of the Abbasid Empire
The Buyids of Persia invade the heartlands of the Abbasid Empire, and capture Baghdad. From this point onward, the caliphs are little more than puppets controlled by families such as the Buyids. Buyid leaders take the title of Sultan, which came to designate Muslim rulers, especially in the West.
