| 622 | Muhammad and his followers emigrate from Mecca to Medina |
| 632 | Muhammad dies; Abu Bakr becomes the first caliph |
| 642 | Muslim defeat of the Persians marks end of the Sassanid empire |
| 651 | Publication of the Qur’an |
| 661 | Ali assassinated; split between Shi’a and Sunnis |
| 711 | Muslims defeat Visigothic kingdom in Spain |
| 722–1492 | Progressive loss of most of Spain to the Christian reconquest (reconquista) |
| 750–1258 | Abbasid caliphate |
| 762 | Baghdad founded by Abbasids |
| 800–1300 | Height of Muslim learning and creativity |
| 869–883 | Zanj (slave) revolts |
| 950–1100 | Entry on a large scale of Turks into the Middle East |
| 1055 | Baghdad falls to Seljuk Turks |
| 1099–1187 | Christian Crusaders hold Jerusalem |
| 1258 | Mongols capture Baghdad and kill the last Abbasid caliph |