MUSLIM EXPANSION & CONQUEST

FIRST FOUR CALIPHS Muhammad’s

closest followers Led Muslims after

death of Muhammad

Spread Islam into Syria, Egypt, Persia, & North Africa

REASONS FOR MUSLIM SUCCESSES Muslims willing to

fight to spread Islam Jihad holy war

Byzantines & Persians weakened from fighting each other

Muslims didn’t persecute non-believers or force people to convert

UMAYYAD CALIPHATE (661-750) Empire stretched from Spain to Central Asia Created bureaucracy (system of officials) to

organize & run empire from capital of Damascus

Arabic common language Overthrown by Abbasids

ABBASID CALIPHATE (750-1258) Capital in Baghdad (trading center) Kept through strong, standing army Made advances in art, math, astronomy, &

medicine Declined because of weak leaders, revolts, &

invasions

MOORS (711-1492) Moors Umayyads in

Spain (Al-Andalus) Capital at Cordoba

Economic and cultural center (trade, new ideas, learning, etc.)

Tolerance for Jews led to new Sephardic (Spanish-Jewish) culture

Later defeated by Spanish in 1492

VISUAL SUMMARY OF MUSLIM EXPANSION