The Historians' History of the World 08

623 The first mosque built. Mohammed becomes a warrior.

624 First battle for the faith with the Meccans at Bedr. Victory of Mohammed.

625 Battle of Ohod, and victory of the Meccans.

627 War of the Fosse. The Koreish make terms with Mohammed.

628 War against the Jews of Khaibar.

629 War against the Greek subjects in Arabia.

630 Mohammed moves against Mecca. He conquers it. War with the Hawazin. Rapid spread of Islam.

632 Death of Mohammed. He leaves the entire peninsula, with the exception of a few tribes, under one sceptre and one creed. His father-in-law, Abu Bekr, is chosen caliph, or representative. An army under Khalid sets out against the Byzantine Empire. Abu Bekr reduces a revolt in Nejd and Yemen, and defends Medina.

633 Khalid, on the lower Euphrates, is called to Syria.

634 Khalid captures Bosrah and overruns the Hauran. Death of Abu Bekr. Omar succeeds.

635 Capture of Damascus.

636 Emesa, Heliopolis, Chalcis, Berœa, and Edessa added to the Mohammedan empire. Battle of the Hieromax (Yermuk). Heraclius abandons Syria to the Moslems.

637 Battle of Cadesia, or Kadisiya, and victory over the Persians. Omar captures Jerusalem, and follows it up by taking Aleppo and Antioch.

638 Mesopotamia is conquered by the Mohammedans, also Tarsus and Diar-Bekr.

639 Invasion of Egypt by Amru.

641 Battle of Nehavend, and great victory of the Mohammedans over the Persians. Most of the Persian nobility come to terms with the Mohammedans. Yezdegerd the king flees to a remote corner of the realm, where he holds a vestige of power until 651 or 652. Alexandria captured.

644 Death of Omar, succeeded by Othman, a weak ruler, who allows the power to fall into the hands of the Koreish nobility.

647 Invasion of Africa by Abdallah. Arabian victories, expelling the Romans.

649 Invasion of Cyprus.

650 Conquest of Aradus.

652 Conquest of Armenia.

654 Conquest of Rhodes.

655 Defeat of the emperor Constans by the Mohammedans in naval battle off Mt. Phœnix in Lycia.

656 Murder of Othman by a party in opposition to the growing worldliness of Islam. Ali, of the opposition, and son-in-law of Mohammed, succeeds. Battle of the Camel. Ali victorious over his opponents. Moawiyah, governor of Syria, heads the opponents of Ali, and incites them to revenge.

657 Ali invades northern Syria. Battle of Siffin. The theocratic faction rebels against Ali.

658 Decision of the umpires, Ali and Moawiyah; the latter wins. Peace made with the Byzantine Empire. Egypt conquered for Moawiyah.

660 Truce between Ali and Moawiyah, dividing the caliphate into the East and West divisions.

661 Kharejite conspiracy to murder Ali, Moawiyah, and Amru. The former alone falls. His son Hassan succeeds, but abdicates in favour of Moawiyah.

THE OMAYYAD DYNASTY (661-750 A.D.)

661 Moawiyah at head of the reunited caliphate. The opposition to him is gradually reduced. The capital is removed to Damascus.

662-663 Great invasion of Asia Minor. Death of Amru.

668 Mohammedans advance to Chalcedon and hold Amorium for a short time.

669 Great invasion of Sicily.

670 Foundation of Kairwan.

673-677 The Mohammedans besiege Constantinople, and are finally driven off by means of Greek fire.

676 Yazid, son of Moawiyah, is appointed heir-apparent. Hereditary nomination becomes a precedent.

678 Thirty years’ peace made with Constantine IV of Constantinople.

680 Death of Moawiyah. Yazid I succeeds. The Ali faction refuse recognition. Hosein, son of Ali, and his company slain.

681 Abdallah ben Zobair proclaims himself caliph.

683 Rebellion and sack of Medina. The cause of Ibn Zobair grows. He maintains a rival court at Mecca, and rebuilds the Kaaba.

684 Death of Yazid. His weak son, Moawiyah II, reigns but a few months. Merwan elected to succeed.

685 Death of Merwan. His son, Abdul-Malik, succeeds. Peace with the emperor Justinian II.

685-687 Rebellion of Mukhtar. He is defeated and slain.

689 Abdul-Malik has Amru put to death.

692 Death of Ibn Zobair. The Omayyad rule is recognised without dispute.

692-693 The Mohammedans ravage Asia Minor and Armenia, but are compelled to accept peace.

695 The peace is broken. Arabic coinage first substituted for that of the Byzantine Empire.

697-698 Hassan’s invasion of Africa. Carthage taken. The last remnants of the Roman Empire disappear from the southern shore of the Mediterranean.

705 Death of Abdul-Malik and succession of his brother, Walid I, already designated as heir to the caliphate. His reign marks the culminating glory of the Omayyads. Schools founded, and public works of all kinds promoted.

709 Conquest of Tyana by the Mohammedans.

711 Invasion of Spain at instigation of Julian, governor of Ceuta. Battle of Xerxes. Tarik destroys the Visigothic kingdom.

712 The Mohammedans take Antioch in Pisidia. In these years great success of the generals Kotaiba and Muhammed b. Kasim in Asia.

715 Death of Walid and accession of Suleiman, the predesignated heir.