1. Muslim Expansion & Conquest

2. First four Caliphs • Muhammad’s closest followers • Led Muslims after death of Muhammad • Spread Islam into Syria, Egypt, Persia, & North Africa

3. 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

4. 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 Umayyad Caliphate (661-750)

5. Capital in Baghdad (trading center) Kept through strong, standing army Made advances in art, math, astronomy, & medicine Declined because of weak leaders, revolts, & invasions Abbasid Caliphate (750-1258)

6. 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 Moors (711-1492)

7. Visual Summary of Muslim Expansion