Western History 58: How did Islam and the Arab civilization expand?

From its origins in the Arabian Peninsula the Monotheistic religion Islam would sweep through the Middle East, North Africa, the Iberian Peninsula, Central Asia and Asia Minor to establish itself as the great rival to the power Christendom Europe and the Near East.  The religion was founded by Muhammad an Arab merchant in Mecca who is believed by his followers to be the final prophet and the recipient of the Holy revelation of Allah (God). The revelation was later documented in the Koran (Muslim Holy Book). Key events in the expansion of Islam as both a religion and a political ideology are listed below.

20 Milestones in the Islamic and Arab Expansion (in order of date)

1. 610 CE – Muhammad has his religious experience on Mount Hira that forever changes his life. He will start building a following from this time onward.
2. 615 CE – Muslims are persecuted by Quaraish in Mecca.
3. 622 CE – Year of the Hijra – Mohammad flees with followers to Yathrib (Medina). Start of the Muslim Calendar,
4. 624 CE – Muhammad returns to Mecca. Wins important Battle of Abdr.
5. 627 CE – Starts persecuting Jews of Banu Quaiza executing their men whom he suspects of aiding his allies. In the Same year he establishes an Alliance with other Medina Merchants.
6. 630 CE – Muhammad finally takes Mecca and makes it the spiritual focal point of Islam.
7. 632 CE – Death of Muhammad. His father-in-law Abu-Bakr and Umar, his successor, move to establish authority of the Caliph (Deputey of the Prophet). Caliph established throughout Arab controlled lands.
8. 633-634 CE – Muslim take Syria and Iraq. Victory over the Byzantines follow.
9. 634-644 CE – Umar expands Muslim control over Egypt, the Levant and  Persia. Great Muslim victory at the Battle of Yarmuk (636 CE) ensures domination of Syria.
10. 637 CE – Fall of Jerusalem to Muslim forces
11. 641 CE – Muslim forces move into the Caucaus regions – Azerbaijan, Georgia, Armenia. In the same year Alexandria falls to the Muslim invaders.
12. 644 CE – Death of Umar. Succession of Uthman. Sunni/Shi’ite split. Shi’ites rally behind Muhammad’s son-in-law Ali. Sunni follow the leadership of Uthman.
13. 649-655 CE – Attacks on Sicily and Cyprus. Muslim victory at the Battle of the Masts. Byzantines continue to lose territory in North Africa.
14. 661-680 CE – Umayyad Dynasty in the ascendancy although they will be opposed by the Abbasids. Muslims capture Rhodes but fail to take Constantinople in two sieges (668 CE and 672-679 CE). Arab conquest reaches the Indus river.
15. 711 CE – Muslims invade Spain. Overthrow the Visigoth kingdoms and establish control of the Iberian Peninsula in 718 CE.
16. 717-718 CE – Muslims fail again to take Constantinople after a brutal siege. Byzantine Emperor Leo III played a key role in this defence.
17. 732 CE – Charles Martel stops the Invasion of the Muslim forces at the Battle of Poitiers. By 739 CE much of the French territory under Muslim control will have been retaken by Christian forces.
18. 750 CE – Composition of the famous Arabian Nights tales.
19. 756 CE – Umayyad Regime under Abd-al Rahman dominates in Spain although power in the rest of the Sunni Muslim world now favours the Abbasids.
20. 800 CE – Caliph Harun al-Rashid (died 809 CE) gives keys to the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem to the Franks thus reinforcing somewhat of a Lain presence in the Holy City.