The Spread of Islam

The Death of Muhammad

Jan 1, 632

Followers of Muhammad fell into grief after his death. This sparked a man named Abu Bakr to become the next successor of Muhammad. Abu built up an army of religious forces and took over empires to spread the religion.

Death of Ali

Jan 1, 661

When Ali died, Islam split into two separate groups (Sunni and Shiite). Sunni felt that the Caliph (the successor to Muhammad) should be chosen by the leaders of the Muslim community. The Shiites believed the true successors to the profit were descendants of Muhammad's daughter and son-in-law. This decreased the number of followers Muhammad had because of all the rioting and fighting that occurred between the two groups.

Muslim Armies Crossed Into Spain and Pushed Into France

Jan 1, 711

Muslim armies invaded Spain and pushed into France. Spain started doing very well as the center of the Muslim community. This expanded the Islam religion because it allowed a central place for it to be celebrated.

Muslim Armies Defeated at the Battle of Tours

Jan 1, 732

The Muslim armies were defeated at the "Battle of Tours". The advance into Europe stopped after this event. This caused the Islam religion to decrease due to the halt of expansion into Europe.

Abu al-Abbas captured Damascus

Jan 1, 750

The Muslims found faith in a new leader (Abu al-Abbas) after he captured Damascus (the Umayyad family that ruled the Islams until 750 when Abu-al Abbas captured them). Abu al-Abbas then founded the Abbassia dynasty. This ended Arab dominance and helped make Islam a universal religion. This helped the increase of the religion because by it becoming a universal religion, more people could celebrate it.

Ambassid Control Over Arabs Shattered

Jan 1, 850

Independent dynasties held power of separate Muslim states. When the Abbassid lost it's control over the Arab empire, it led to the eruption of civil wars. Shiites started taking over parts of the empire. This decreased the spread of Islam due to all of the wars and new leaders of the empire.

Seljuk Turks migrated into the Middle East from Central Asia

Jan 1, 900

Islam was adopted by the Seljuk Turks after they migrated into the Middle East. Once they arrived they built a large empire across the Fertile Crescent. This helped to spread Islam because more people adopted the religion meaning new people were coming into it.

Seljuk Sultan Controlled Baghdad

Jan 1, 1055

Seljuk Sultan gained control over Baghdad, but he left the Abbassid as a figurehead. Seljuks pushed into Asia and threatened the Byzantine Empire. Seljuk interfered with Christian pilgrims traveling to Jerusalem. This led the Pope to call for the first crusade in 1095. This caused a decrease in the expansion of the Islam religion.

First Crusade

Jan 1, 1095

Seljuk interference with Christian pilgrims traveling to Jerusalem led the Pope to call for the First Crusade. It was a long bloody fight.

Christian Crusaders captured Jerusalem

Jan 1, 1099

This was the start of the city being passed back and forth between Muslims and Christians for 150 years.

Ousted Christians from Jerusalem

Jan 1, 1187

Muslim general Salah al-Din kicked out the Christians from Jerusalem. This gave Muslims Jerusalem until Christians regained it (but lost it again in 1244). This expanded the Islam religion by giving the Muslims Jerusalem.

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

Jan 1, 1216

Genghiz Khan conquered much of Asia. He brought the idea of religious freedom, which helps spread the Islam religion.

Hulagu burned and looted Baghdad which killed the last abbassid caliph

Jan 1, 1258

This decreased the spread of Islam because Baghdad was taken over by the grandson of Genghis Khan.

Tamerlane takes control

Jan 1, 1300

In the later 1300's Timur the Lame, or Tamerlane (a Mongol leader) sent his armies into the Middle East. Tamerlane's goal was to conquer Muslim and non-Muslim lands even though he himself was Muslim. His armies became successful and overtook Persia and Mesopotamia before invading Russia and India. This expanded the Islam culture by bringing it to other non-Muslim regions.

Christian Forces Fight to Reconquer Spain

Jan 1, 1492

After the "Battle of Tours", Christian forces fought for centuries to win back Spain. They captured the last powerful group of Muslims in 1492. During this event, the country of Spain had a large increase in Muslim civilization. This increased the Islam religion due to Spain's growth in Muslim citizens, but also decreased it due to Christians taking the power.

Suleiman Becomes the Ruler of the Ottoman Empire

Jan 1, 1520

Suleiman becomes the ruler of the Ottoman Empire. When he gains his power, the empire grows. This helps to expand the Islam religion because the people now have a leader to follow.