CALIPHATES and SULTANATES
Changing Powers in Dar al- Islam
CALIPHATE
• KHALIFA = Arabic word meaning “One who replaces someone who is gone”
• MUSLIM CALIPH = Islamic term used to identify “Successors of Muhammad”
• CALIPHATE = Term used to denote the government of a Muslim Dynasty or Empire
• DAR AL-ISLAM = Arabic term used to describe any land within Muslim rule or control
Each subordinate member state of a Caliphate was known as a
EMIRATE
or
SULTANATE
SULTAN = Arabic word meaning “Holder of Authority” or “Muslim Ruler”
Rashidun Caliphate
632 – 661 CE
“The Four Rightly
Guided Caliphs”
Successors of the
Prophet Muhammad
(1st) Abu Bakr (632 – 634 CE)
(2nd) Umar (634 – 644 CE)
(3rd) Uthman (644 - 656 CE)
(4th ) Ali (656 - 661 CE)
Major Changes under
“The Four Rightly Guided Caliphs”

Abu Bakr
• Instituted policies of Impartial Justice for all faiths
• Recorded Muhammad’s Revelations
• Followers became known as SUNNI

Umar
• Created codes to protect all non-Muslims in Islam
• Created a Bureaucratic Government
• Appointed Provincial Governors called SULTANS

Uthman
• Created humane policies for all people living in Islam
• Compiled Muhammad’s Revelations into the Quran
• Murdered during uprising of Jews and Arab rebels

Ali
• Moved capital to Baghdad due to Sunni rebellions
• Followers became known as SHI’A
• Assassinated by Sunni Muslims
UMAYYADS (Sunni) (661 – 750 CE)
• Expanded Islam across N. Africa, into Spain, and Persia
• Converted the Caliphate from a Religious institution to a Dynasty
• Moved the Capital from Baghdad to Damascus
• Constructed the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem dedicated to Muhammad
• Brought down by a Shi’a Rebellion
CALIPHATE of
CORDOBA (756 – 1031 CE)
• Created by the former Emir of
Cordoba after fall of the Umayyads
• Increased developments in Trade,
Culture, Education, and Technology
• Constructed the Great Mosque
(or Mesquita) in Cordoba
• Built numerous libraries influencing an Islamic Golden Age in Spain
ABBASIDS (Shi’a) (750 – 1258 CE)
• Moved Capital from Damascus to Baghdad
• Created a “House of Wisdom”,
continuing the developments of
an Islamic Golden Age
• Created large army of Turkish Slaves known
as Mamluks to help protect the caliphate
• Declined due to invasion by the Mongols
FATIMIDS (909 –1171 CE)
• Shi’a Dynasty that developed in Egypt
• Established New Capital in Cairo
• Created government merit system allowing
even Jews and Christians to hold offices
• Declined during Crusades as various
groups declared independence
GHAZNAVID
SULTANATE
(975 –1187 CE)
• First Independent Sultanate under
the Abbasids (Shi’a)
• Middlemen for trade along the
Silk Road (Between China & Europe)
• Founded by the Mamluks (Turkish
Warriors in the Abbasid Armies
• Brought Islam to Hindu dominated India
• Capital located in Ghazni, Afghanistan
• Created a Persian Golden Age of
Knowledge and Cultural Blending
• Second Independent Sultanate under the Abbasids
• Founded by Turkish General TUGRUL BEG
GREAT
SELJUK
SULTANATE
(1037 - 1307 CE)
• Gained control of Anatolia and the Black Sea from the Byzantine Empire
• Became the foundation of the OTTOMAN EMPIRE (Lasting until 1922)
AYYUBID
SULTANATE
(1169 - 1260 CE)
• Founded by the Muslim Leader SALADIN during the decline
of the Fatimid Dynasty
• Defeated invading Crusaders at the Battles of Hattin and Conquest of Jerusalem in 1180’s
• Capital located in Damascus
• Declined due to invading Mongols
SULTANATE of DELHI (1206 - 1526 CE)
• Founded by the Great Seljuk Turks
• Established a network of Market Centers
• Developed region into Provinces & Districts
• Created a period of Indian
Renaissance and Indo-Muslim
Cultural Blending (Golden Age)
• Conquered by the Mughal
Empire