| 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 |