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Umayyad Caliphate
The Umayyad Caliphate: A Brief History
The Umayyad Caliphate, also known as the Umayyat Empire or Lāḥafātī, was a caliphate established after the death of Islamic prophet Muhammad and ruled by the Umayyad dynasty from 661 to 750. The Umayyads were a branch of the Quraysh tribe, who initially opposed Islam but later converted under the leadership of Muhammad.
The Umayyad family established hereditary rule under Mu'awiya ibn Abi Sufyan, the long-time governor of Greater Syria, who became caliph after emerging victorious in the First Fitna following the assassination of Ali in 661. The Umayyads continued to expand their territories through conquests, including the Maghreb, Transoxiana, Sindh, and Hispania.
The Umayyad state was established with Damascus as its capital, which remained a core power base for the dynasty. Muawiya ibn Abu Sufyan converted to Islam under Muhammad's rule and went on to establish the Umayyad state under his leadership. He adopted some Byzantine practices in governance and administration, including making the caliphate hereditary when he appointed his son Yazid as successor.
The largest Umayyad conquests took place during the reign of Walid ibn Abd al-Malik, who completed the conquest of North Africa, conquered all of Spain, and conquered Sindh under several leaders. The state's borders extended from southern France in the west to eastern China at its peak under Caliph Hisham ibn Abd al-Malik.
The Umayyad dynasty played a significant role during the pre-Islamic era and the Islamic period, with Muawiya ibn Abu Sufyan claiming descent from Amr ibn Abd Shams of the Quraish tribe. The state's influence was marked by its adoption of imperial practices, including an imperial throne and guards, as well as the creation of a postal system.
The Umayyad Caliphate came to an end with the death of Hisham in 743 CE, marking the beginning of the Abbasid Caliphate. The legacy of the Umayyads can still be seen in modern-day Syria, Jordan, and other parts of the Middle East, where they left a lasting impact on politics, culture, and society.