Umayyad Caliphate facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Umayyad Caliphate ٱلْخِلَافَة ٱلْأُمَوِيَّة
661–750
The Umayyad dynastic color was white.
The Umayyad Caliphate at its greatest extent in AD 750
Capital	Damascus (661–744) Harran (744–750)
Capital-in-exile	Córdoba (756–1031)
Common languages	Classical Arabic (official) – Coptic, Greek, Latin, Persian (official in certain regions until the reign of Abd al-Malik) – Aramaic, Armenian, Kurdish, Berber languages, African Romance, Mozarabic, Sindhi, Georgian, Prakrit
Religion	Sunni Islam
Government	Caliphate
Caliph
• 661–680	Muawiya I (first)
• 744–750	Marwan II (last)
History
• Muawiya I becomes caliph	estimated from 660 to 665
• Defeat and death of Marwan II by the Abbasids	750
Area
720	11,100,000 km2 (4,300,000 sq mi)
Currency	Dinar (gold coin) Dirham (silver coin) Fals (copper coin)
Preceded by Succeeded by Rashidun Caliphate Byzantine Empire Visigothic Kingdom Exarchate of Africa Kingdom of the Aurès Kingdom of Altava Brahman dynasty of Sindh Hephthalite Empire Abbasid Caliphate Emirate of Córdoba Barghawata Kingdom of Nekor Emirate of Tlemcen
Amir al-Mu'minin (أمير المؤمنين), caliph (خليفة)

The Umayyad Caliphate was the second big Islamic caliphate (empire) that formed after the death of Muhammad. It was one of the largest empires in the world at that time. In fact, it is the fifth largest empire in all of history!

This empire was ruled by the Umayyad Dynasty. This family, also known as Banu Umayyah, came from Mecca in what is now Saudi Arabia. The capital city of the Umayyad Caliphate changed over time. It was Damascus from 661 to 744, then Harran from 744 to 750. Later, when the Umayyads were no longer in power in the main caliphate, their capital in exile was Córdoba from 756 to 1031.

Who Were the Umayyads?

The Umayyad family and the Islamic Prophet Muhammad shared a common ancestor named Abd Manaf ibn Qusai. Muhammad's family came from Abd Manaf's son, Hashim. The Umayyads came from a different son, Abd-Shams.

So, these two families were like different branches of the same large Arabian tribe called the Quraish.

Entry to the prayer hall of the Great Mosque of Damascus, built by caliph Al-Walid I.

The Umayyads and Muhammad's family (the Hashimites) had a strong rivalry. This started because Abu Sufyan ibn Harb, a grandson of Umayya, was against Muhammad and the new religion of Islam at first. He even fought battles to try and stop Islam.

However, Abu Sufyan and his son, Muawiyah I, later accepted Islam. They became very important because they had great political and diplomatic skills. These skills were much needed to help manage the quickly growing Islamic empire.

How the Umayyad Caliphate Began

The Umayyad rule started after the assassination of Uthman in 656. After Uthman's death, Ali, who was a cousin of Prophet Muhammad, became the caliph.

Ali faced opposition from different groups. He moved his capital from Medina to Kufa. This led to a conflict that lasted from 656 to 661. This period is known as the First Fitna, which means "time of trial" or civil war.

The expansion of the caliphate under the Umayyads.      Expansion under the Prophet Mohammad, 622-632      Expansion during the Patriarchal Caliphate, 632-661      Expansion during the Umayyad Caliphate, 661-750

One group that opposed Ali was led by Aisha, who was Muhammad's widow. Other leaders included Talhah and Al-Zubayr, who were companions of the Prophet. These groups fought Ali at the Battle of the Camel in 656. Ali won this battle.

When Ali was assassinated in 661, Muawiyah I marched to Kufa. He convinced many of Ali's supporters to accept him as caliph instead of Ali's son, Hasan.

After becoming caliph, Muawiyah moved the capital of the caliphate to Damascus. Syria remained the main base of Umayyad power until their dynasty ended.

Related Pages

• Muslim history

Images for kids

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  A Greek inscription crediting Mu'awiya for restoring Roman bathhouses near Tiberias in 663.

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  Sasanian-style Umayyad coin minted in Basra in 675/76.

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  Genealogical tree of the Sufyanids. The names in red indicate caliphs.

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  The Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem.

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  Two coins of the Umayyad Caliphate, based on Byzantine prototypes.

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  The North gate of the city of Resafa, site of Hisham's palace and court.

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  The Caliphate at the beginning of the Abbasid revolt, before the Battle of the Zab.

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  Coin of the Umayyad Caliphate, based on a Byzantine prototype, 695.

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  Ivory (circa 8th century) discovered in the Abbasid homestead in Humeima, Jordan.

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  Map of the Caliphate's expansion.

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  Umayyad Mosque of Damascus.

See also

In Spanish: Califato omeya para niños