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