Empires & Eras

Arabian Peninsula, Iraq, Syria, Egypt

The era of the Rightly Guided Caliphs: Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman, and Ali. Foundation of Islamic state and compilation of Quran.

Syria (Damascus), North Africa, Spain

Expansion of Islamic empire and development of early Islamic sciences. Capital in Damascus.

Iraq (Baghdad), Persia, Central Asia

Golden Age of Islamic civilization. Establishment of Bayt al-Hikmah in Baghdad. Flourishing of all Islamic sciences.

North Africa, Egypt (Cairo)

Shia Ismaili caliphate in North Africa and Egypt. Foundation of Al-Azhar University.

Egypt, Syria, Yemen

Founded by Salahuddin al-Ayyubi. Revival of Sunni scholarship and establishment of madrasas.

Egypt, Syria

Continuation of Islamic scholarship in Egypt and Syria after the fall of Baghdad. Era of encyclopedic works.

Turkey, Balkans, Middle East, North Africa

Vast empire spanning three continents. Preservation and transmission of classical Islamic texts.