EMPIRE BUILDING: MUSLIM EMPIRES

FOUNDATIONS OF ISLAMIC CIVILIZATION

After the death of Prophet Muhammad (632 CE), Muslim leaders expanded Islam through faith, trade, and governance.

Islamic beliefs shaped law, culture, education, and daily life

RASHIDUN CALIPHATE

First Islamic state after the death of Prophet Muhammad

Ruled by the Four Rightly Guided Caliphs

Capital cities: Medina and later Kufa

Based on the Our'an and Sunnah

Rapid expansion across Arabia, the Levant, Persia, and Egypt

Defeated the Byzantine and Sassanid Empires

Emphasized justice, consultation (shura), and moral leadership

Simple administration with strong religious unity

Religious tolerance for People of the Book

Internal conflicts and succession disputes

Assassination of Caliphs Umar, Uthman, and Ali

Ended with the rise of the Umayyad Caliphate (661 CE)

Model of Islamic governance and leadership

Spread of Islam beyond Arabia

Foundation for later Islamic empires

UMAYYAD CALIPHATE

First dynastic caliphate after Rashidun

Founded by Mu'awiya I in Damascus

Sunni Muslim leadership

Capital: Damascus, Syria

Expanded empire to Spain (Al-Andalus), North Africa, Persia, and Central Asia

Developed Arabic as administrative language

Built infrastructure: mosques, roads, and postal systems

Maintained Islamic governance with local autonomy

Internal revolts and tribal conflicts

Overthrown by Abbasids (750 CE)

Established Islamic culture across a vast empire

Spread Islam to North Africa and Spain

Created the first dynastic caliphate model

THE ABBASID DYNASTY - GOLDEN AGE & CULTURAL FLOURISHING

Overthrew the Umayyads in 750 CE

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Centralized bureaucracy and development of Islamic law (Sharia)

Decline due to political fragmentation and invasions

Sacked by the Mongols in 1258

Sparked the Islamic Golden Age

Influenced art, culture, and learning worldwide

Model of administration and governance for later Islamic empires

Capital: Baghdad, Iraq

Sunni Muslim leadership emphasizing learning and administration

Known as the "Golden Age of Islam"

Advanced science, medicine, mathematics, and literature

Baghdad became a major center of trade and scholarship

Promoted religious tolerance

FATIMID CALIPHATE

Shia Islamic empire following Ismaili Shi a Islam

Founded in North Africa; challenged Abbasid authority

Claimed descent from Fatimah. daughter of Prophet Muhammad

Combined religious (imam) and political (caliph) leadership

Conquered Egypt (969 CE) and founded Cairo

Built Al-Azhar Mosque and University, a center of Islamic learning

Controlled key Mediterranean and Red Sea trad trade routes

Promoted religious tolerance for Christians and Jews

Advanced science, medicine. arts, and education

Weakened by internal conflicts and economic problems

Pressured by Crusaders and Sunni rivals

Overthrown by Saladin (1171 CE) → Ayyubid Dynasty