Spread of Islam & Decline

632

Sep 29, 632

Abu Bakr was determined to continue the work of Muhammad. This is important because the word of God will continue to be spread

661

Sep 29, 661

Arab armies marched from victory to victory. This is important because they conquered new land and demolished the Persian empire. Ali was assassinated in a struggle for leadership.

711

Sep 29, 711

Muslims crossed the Strait of Gibraltar into Spain and pushed north into France. This is important because the Muslims were conquering more land

732

Sep 29, 732

The Muslims were defeated at the battle of Tours. This is important because, the Muslim could not advance into Western Europe.

750

Sep 29, 750

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 Arav dominance. This helped islam spread.

1055

Sep 29, 1055

the Seljuk authority controlled Baghdad, but he left the Abbassid caliph as a figurehead. This is important because, the Seljuks threatened the Byzantine empire as they pushed into Asia Minor.

1095

Sep 29, 1095

Christian pilgrims traveled to Jerusalem. This is important because, it led Pope Urban II to call for the First Crusade

1099

Sep 29, 1099

Christian crusaders captured Jerusalem. This is important because, they fought through a long and bloody seige, or attack.

1187

Sep 29, 1187

The Muslim general Salah al-Din, or Saladin, ousted Christians from Jerusalem. This is important because they regained it in 1244. They also ruled a few tiny states in Palestine

1216

Sep 29, 1216

Genghiz Khan led the Mongols out of Central Asia. This is important because, they were led across Persia and Mesopotamia

1258

Sep 29, 1258

Hulagu, grandson of Genghiz, burned and looted Baghdad. This is important because it killed the last Abbassid caliph. Later, the Mongols adopted Islam

1300's

Sep 29, 1300

Timur the Lame, or Tamerlane, led his armies into the Middle East. This is important because Tamerlane planned to conquer Muslim as well as non-Muslim lands. The armies overran Persia and Mesopotamia before invading Russia and India

1492

Sep 29, 1492

Christians seized the last Muslim stronghold after centuries of fighting to reconquer Spain. This is important because Spaniards originally adopted Islam because Muslim rules were more forgiving than Christian rulers.

1520

Sep 29, 1520

Suleiman becomes ruler of the Ottoman empire. This is important because, during his reign, the empire grew.

850

Mar 2, 2022

Abbassid control over the Arab empire fragmented. This is important because as the caliph's power faded, civil wars erupted, and Shiite rulers took over parts of the empire.

900

Mar 2, 2022

The Seljuk Turks migrated into the Middle East from Central Asia. This is important because, they adopted Islam and built an empire across the Fertile Crescent.