Overview of Islamic

History

Prophet Muhammad (571-632) Hashemite clan, Quraish

tribe
Umar in al-Khattab 634 644
Established institutions that greatly
affected the direction th the new
Islamic empire
Sent reinforcements to Syria
Battle at the Yarmuk River with
Byzantine troops (636)
Battle at Qadissiyya (636). Beginning
of the decay and fall of the Sassanian
Empire.
Penetration to North Africa and
conquest of Egypt (640)
Known for the establishment of
important instituions such as misr,
military encampments (Fustat, Kufa,
Basra
Registry of spoils, diwan.
Killed by Persian slave.
Instituted the elective council (shura)
from which the next caliph was to be
chosen (6)

Abu Bakr Prophets best friend and

father-in-law

Was concerned with the

phenomenon of riddah (apostasy)

Engaged in a series of wars of

apostasy the ridda wars 632-633

Appointed Umar as his successor.

Rightly guided khalifs

Abu Bakr (632-634)
Umar (634-644)
Uthman (644-656)
Ali (656-661)

Ali ibn Abi Talib 656 -661

The Prophets son-in-law
His whole reign was characterized by civil
war (first civil war in Islam fitna)
He attempted to reconcile contending
factions.
Muawiya ibn Abi Sufyan, governor of
Damask, demanded the killers of his cousin
Ali be brought to justice.
Tensions between Muawiyas and Alis
clans.
The issue of leadership of the community:
election of khalif and his removal.
Sunni Shia split
Assassination of Ali and the rise of

Uthman ibn Affan 644 656

Standardization of the
Quran
The vast majority of the
early Islamic conquests were
completed under the
caliphates of Umar and
Uthman.
By his death, Muslims ruled
ove the whole of the former
Sassanian Empire, pushed
Byzantines into Anatolia, and
spread across all of North
Africa.
Assassinated in 656

Muawiya
Brought stability to
empire
Moved capital do
Damscus

Abd al-Malik ibn

Marwan 685-705
Arabization of the
empires
bureaucracy
Minting coins

Yazid 680-683
Rebellion of al-Husayn
ibn Ali (the Prophets
grandson
Karbala massacre
This battle and
consequent events
became an important
inicident in the history
of Islam, especially
among the Shia
Muslims.

Umar II 717-720
Earned the admiration of the
sects
Commissioned the writing
down of the first collection of
hadith and sira

The Buyyids
Family of Daylami soldiers,
southwest of the Caspian Sea.
Took over large areas of Iran
in 934.
Invaded Baghdad and ruled
from 943 to 1055.
Shia Muslims
Best works of Shia doctrine
were written down during their
reign.

Abasids
defeated
Umayyads in
750
Built new
capital
Baghdad, in
763
Baghdad
developed in a
city of 1 m. with
universities,
hospitals,
libraries, hotels,
internationals
markets. Center
of civilized
world.
House of
Wisdom (Bayt
al-Hikma) to
translate works
from Greek.

Abbasid power began to

wane around 950.
Powerful Shiite
dynasties started to rule
large parts of the Islamic
world during the 10th and
11th centuries.

Fatimids
The Fatimid dynasty
represented the Ismaili
branch of Shiism.
The dynasty was centered
in North Africa between 909973 and in Egypt 973 1171.
They built the city of Cairo
Established Al-Azhar
University
Created several ShiI

The Medieval Empires

The Ottomans Mediterranean and the Balkans
The Safavids - Iran
Mughals - India

The Safavid Empire (1501-1722)

The Safavid Empire was based in what is today Iran, parts
of Turkey and Georgia
The Empire was founded by the Safavids, aSufiorder.
This Islamic Empire was strong enough to challenge the
Ottomans in the west and the Mughalsin the east.
The Safavid Empire was a theocracy, with Shia Islam as a
state religion.
The Empire's economic strength came from its location on
the trade routes
The Empire made Iran a centre ofart,architecture, poetry
and philosophy
The capital, Isfahan, is one of the most beautiful cities in
the world
The key figures in the Empire were:
The Empire declined when it became complacent and
corrupt

The Mughal Empire (1500s and 1600s)

The Mughal (or Mogul) Empire ruled most of India and
Pakistan in the 16th and 17th centuries.
It consolidated Islam in South Asia, and spread Muslim (and
particularly Persian) arts and culture as well as the faith.
The Mughals were Muslims who ruled a country with a
largeHindumajority. However for much of their empire they
allowed Hindus to reach senior government or military
positions.
The Mughals brought many changes to India:
Centralized government that brought together many
smaller kingdoms
Delegated government with respect for human rights
Persian art and culture
Persian language mixed with Arabic and Hindi to create
Urdu
Periods of great religious tolerance
A style of architecture (e.g. the Taj Mahal)
A system of education that took account of pupils'
needs and culture

The Turks
The Seljuks: Turkish nomads from Central Asia and the Steppe migrated to the Near East over a
period of centuries. Lived under various khalifs and were well skilled in governance. Their interest
in power, state and governance elevated them to high ranks with various Islamic dynasties.
The Ottomans
In 1453 became the undisputed rulers of the old Byzantine Empire.
Ruled vast areas of Asia, Africa and Eastern Europe. Known for military advancements in the
Mediterranean. Last sultan 1924

 Shiatu Aliyy
Ahl as-sunnah wal-jamaa