spread of islam timeline

By clarawatson
  • Sep 1, 632

    death of Muhammed

    death of Muhammed
    The death of Muhammad plunged his followers into grief. The prophet had been a pious and a powerful leader. No one else had been able to unify Bedouin tribes.
  • Oct 5, 661

    Ali is murdered

    Ali is murdered
    Ali became the fourth caliph but he was assassinated in a struggle for leadership. Later his son, too, was killed, Many other Shiites died in the battle against Sunni trying to install their candidates for caliph.
  • Oct 5, 711

    Muslims crossed the Strait of Gibraltar into spain and pushed north into France.

    Muslims crossed the Strait of Gibraltar into spain and pushed north into France.
    Muslim armies conquered even more land. Muslims defeated Byzantine forces across North Africa.
  • Oct 5, 732

    The Muslims were defeated at the battle of Tours

    The Muslims were defeated at the battle of Tours
    Muslims advanced into Western Europe was halted. Muslims would rule parts of Spain for centuries.
  • Oct 5, 750

    Discontented, Muslims found a leader in Adu al-Abbas, who captured Damascus

    Discontented, Muslims found a leader in Adu al-Abbas, who captured Damascus
    One of his generals invited one of his members of the defeated Umayyad family to a banquet and killed them all.
  • Oct 5, 850

    Abbassid control over the Arab empire fragmented.

    Abbassid control over the Arab empire fragmented.
    In Spain, Egypt and elsewhere independent dynasties ruled separate Muslim states. As the caliphs power faded civil wars erupted and Shiites rulers took over parts of the empire.
  • Oct 5, 900

    The Seljuk Turks migrated into the middle-east from central Asia.

    The Seljuk Turks migrated into the middle-east from central Asia.
    They adopted Islam and built a large empire across the fertile crescent.
  • Oct 5, 1055

    A Suljek sultan or authority controlled Baghdad

    A Suljek sultan or authority controlled Baghdad
    He left the Abbasid caliph as a figurehead.
  • Oct 5, 1095

    Reports of Seljik interferences with christian pilgrims traveling Jerusalem led Pope Urban ll, to call for the first Crusade

    Reports of Seljik interferences with christian pilgrims traveling Jerusalem led Pope Urban ll, to call for the first Crusade
    As the Seljuk pushed into Asia Minor, they threatened the Byzantine empire.
  • Period: Oct 5, 1099 to Oct 6, 1099

    Christian Crusaders captured Jerusalem

    450 years the city passed back and forth between Muslims and Christians.
  • Period: Oct 5, 1187 to Oct 6, 1187

    The Muslim general Salah al-Din or Saladin ousted Christians from Jerusalem

    They regained it after his death holding it until 1244
  • Period: Oct 5, 1216 to Oct 6, 1216

    Genghiz Khan led the Mongols out of Central Asia across Persia and Mesopotamia

    Mongol armies returned again and again
  • Period: Oct 5, 1258 to Oct 6, 1258

    Hulagu, grandson of Genghiz burned and looted Baghdad killing the last Abbassid caliph.

    Later, the Mongols adopted Islam
  • Period: Oct 5, 1300 to Oct 6, 1300

    Another Mongol leader Tinur the Lame or Tamerlane, led his armies into the middle east.

    Through he himself was a Muslim. Tamerlane's ambitions led him to conquer Muslim as well as non-Muslim lands. His victorious armies overran Persia and Mesopotamia before invading Russia and India.
  • Period: Oct 5, 1492 to Oct 6, 1492

    Muslims in Europe seize the last Muslim stronghold

    Spain flourished as a center of Muslim Civilization.
  • Period: Oct 5, 1520 to Oct 6, 1520

    Suleiman becomes ruler of the Ottoman Empire

    During his Reign the empire grows and enjoys a golden age.