Brief History of Islam
By: Mallory Skinner
Issue date: 9/21/06 Section: LifeStyle
634
Abu Bakr dies and is succeeded by Umar ibn al-Khattab, who rules until 644. Umar ibn al-Khattab uses the Muslim army to spread Islam further in the Middle East.
636
At the battle of Yarmouk, Syria, Palestine and Lebanon are conquered by the Muslim army.
637
The Muslim army defeats the Sassanid Empire in Iraq and gradually takes control of the country. In the following years, the Muslims conquer parts of Egypt, Anatolia and Armenia.
650
A delegation led by Sa'ad ibn Waqqas, a maternal uncle of Muhammad, is sent to China. Sa'ad ibn Waqqas asks Chinese Emperor Yung-Wei to embrace Islam. As a token of his reverence for Islam, the Emperor orders the construction of China's first Mosque, the Canton Mosque.
711
Muslims invade Spain and expand their territories.
720
Spain is largely under Muslim control. But establishing a Muslim state proves difficult because the ruling Islamic forces are different nationalities.
756-1031
Muslim period in Spain described as a "golden age," where libraries, colleges and public baths are built and literature, poetry and architecture prosper. Muslims, Christians and Jews live harmoniously.
1301
In order to consolidate their empire, the Ottomans create an infantry group made up of slaves and Christian converts to Islam. The Ottomans then defeat the Christian Byzantine Empire and expand westward.
1453
Constantinople, a major trading and Christian religious center, is captured by Ottoman Sultan Mehmet III. Mehmet renames Constantinople Istanbul, or the "city of Islam." Muslim dominance of the city forces Western nations to find new ways to the East, leading to the expeditions of Columbus and Magellan.
1492
The last Muslim dynasty is defeated in the Spanish city of Granada. Christians eject Muslims and Jews from Spain, bringing nearly 800 years of Muslim rule in Spain to an end.
1501
The Safavids, an Islamic brotherhood, declare their independence when the Ottomans outlaw Shi'a Islam, a particular sect of the religion.
1505
Originally from Farghana, Turkestan, Prince Babur becomes ruler of Northern India, bringing Islam to the country and encouraging Indian trade with the Islamic world.
1869
The opening of the Suez Canal in Britain creates an increase in trade, causing a demand for men to work in ports and on ships. Many of these men were immigrants from Yemen who later settled in the port cities of Cardiff, Hull, Liverpool, London and South Shields. Today, an estimated 80,000 Yemenis live in Britain, comprising the longest-established Muslim group in England.
1947
Pakistan is founded as an Islamic nation. Islam is recognized as a minority religion in India.
1950s-1960s
Muslims from India and Pakistan immigrate to Britain in order to escape the disruption caused by the division of British India into Pakistan and India.
1957
An independent Malayan state is established and adopts Islam as its official religion.
Abu Bakr dies and is succeeded by Umar ibn al-Khattab, who rules until 644. Umar ibn al-Khattab uses the Muslim army to spread Islam further in the Middle East.
636
At the battle of Yarmouk, Syria, Palestine and Lebanon are conquered by the Muslim army.
637
The Muslim army defeats the Sassanid Empire in Iraq and gradually takes control of the country. In the following years, the Muslims conquer parts of Egypt, Anatolia and Armenia.
650
A delegation led by Sa'ad ibn Waqqas, a maternal uncle of Muhammad, is sent to China. Sa'ad ibn Waqqas asks Chinese Emperor Yung-Wei to embrace Islam. As a token of his reverence for Islam, the Emperor orders the construction of China's first Mosque, the Canton Mosque.
711
Muslims invade Spain and expand their territories.
720
Spain is largely under Muslim control. But establishing a Muslim state proves difficult because the ruling Islamic forces are different nationalities.
756-1031
Muslim period in Spain described as a "golden age," where libraries, colleges and public baths are built and literature, poetry and architecture prosper. Muslims, Christians and Jews live harmoniously.
1301
In order to consolidate their empire, the Ottomans create an infantry group made up of slaves and Christian converts to Islam. The Ottomans then defeat the Christian Byzantine Empire and expand westward.
1453
Constantinople, a major trading and Christian religious center, is captured by Ottoman Sultan Mehmet III. Mehmet renames Constantinople Istanbul, or the "city of Islam." Muslim dominance of the city forces Western nations to find new ways to the East, leading to the expeditions of Columbus and Magellan.
1492
The last Muslim dynasty is defeated in the Spanish city of Granada. Christians eject Muslims and Jews from Spain, bringing nearly 800 years of Muslim rule in Spain to an end.
1501
The Safavids, an Islamic brotherhood, declare their independence when the Ottomans outlaw Shi'a Islam, a particular sect of the religion.
1505
Originally from Farghana, Turkestan, Prince Babur becomes ruler of Northern India, bringing Islam to the country and encouraging Indian trade with the Islamic world.
1869
The opening of the Suez Canal in Britain creates an increase in trade, causing a demand for men to work in ports and on ships. Many of these men were immigrants from Yemen who later settled in the port cities of Cardiff, Hull, Liverpool, London and South Shields. Today, an estimated 80,000 Yemenis live in Britain, comprising the longest-established Muslim group in England.
1947
Pakistan is founded as an Islamic nation. Islam is recognized as a minority religion in India.
1950s-1960s
Muslims from India and Pakistan immigrate to Britain in order to escape the disruption caused by the division of British India into Pakistan and India.
1957
An independent Malayan state is established and adopts Islam as its official religion.
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