Library: Islam by Credo Reference: Islamic History

Origins & the Golden Age

Abbasids: Topic Page
The Abbasid caliphate was the third of the Islamic caliphates, and it lasted from 750 until 1258, making it the longest of the caliphates and one that presided over great advances in science and technology until it was destroyed by the Mongols.
Abu Bakr (573 - 634)
From The Columbia Encyclopedia
1st caliph, friend, father-in-law, and successor of Muhammad. He was probably Muhammad's first convert outside the Prophet's family and alone accompanied Muhammad on the Hegira.
Fatimid Caliphate
From Encyclopedia of African History The Fatimids (969-1073) were an Ismai'ili Shi'a dynasty that controlled Egypt and portions of North Africa and Syria in the tenth and eleventh centuries.
Harun al-Rashid (764 - 809)
From The Columbia Encyclopedia
5th and most famous Abbasid caliph (786–809). He succeeded his brother Musa al-Hadi, fourth caliph, a year after the death of his father, Mahdi, the third caliph.
Muhammad (570 - 632): Topic Page
c.570-632 Arab prophet and religious leader who founded Islam . He was born in Mecca. At the age of 25 he began working as a trading agent.
Umayyad Caliphate: Topic Page
The first Islamic dynasty (661–750). Their reign witnessed the return to leadership roles of the pre-Islamic Arab elite, and the rejuvenation of tribal loyalties.

Decentralization & Fragmentation

Akbar (1542 - 1605): Topic Page
1542–1605, Mughal emperor of India (1556–1605); son of Humayun, grandson of Babur. He succeeded to the throne under a regent, Bairam Khan, who rendered loyal service in expanding and consolidating the Mughal domains before he was summarily dismissed (1560) by the young king.
Mahmud II (1784 - 1839): Topic Page
1784–1839, Ottoman sultan (1808–39), younger son of Abd al-Hamid I. He was raised to the throne of the Ottoman Empire (Turkey) upon the deposition of his brother, Mustafa IV, and continued the reforms of his cousin, Selim III.
Mughal Empire
From Chamber's Dictionary of World History
An important Indian Muslim state (1526–1857), founded by Babur. It temporarily declined under Humayun (1530–40), who lost control to the Afghan chieftain, Sher Shah (1540–5).
Ottoman Empire: Topic Page
Vast state founded in the late 13th cent. by Turkish tribes in Anatolia and ruled by the descendants of Osman I until its dissolution in 1918.
Safavid: Topic Page
Iranian dynasty (1499–1736), that established Shiite Islam in Iran as an official state religion. The Safavid state provided both the territorial and societal foundations of modern Iran.
Suleiman I (1494 - 1566)
From The Hutchinson Unabridged Encyclopedia
Ottoman sultan from 1520, known as the Magnificent and the Lawgiver. Under his rule, the Ottoman Empire flourished and reached its largest extent.

Modern Islamic History

Al-Qaeda: Topic Page
Islamic-extremist international terrorist organization, nominally controlled by Osama bin Laden. It was responsible on 11 September 2001 for the world's single worst terrorist atrocity.
Boko Haram: Topic Page
[Western education is sinful], Nigerian Islamic fundamentalist militia, officially Jama'atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda'awati Wal-Jihad [people committed to the propagation of the Prophet's teachings and jihad].
Hamas: Topic Page
Islamic fundamentalist organization formally founded by Sheikh Yassin Ahmed in 1988. Its militant wing, the Izzedine Al Qassam Brigades, played a major role in the Intifada.
Hezbollah: Topic Page
Lebanese Shiite political party and militia. Founded in 1982 with Iranian help to oppose Israeli forces occupying S Lebanon, Hezbollah launched guerrilla attacks and suicide bombings against Israeli forces.
Islamic Music
In The Harvard Dictionary of Music
Music is central to any world religion, and Islam is no exception. Although music and musicians have been viewed with skepticism, the Islamic context has inspired countless musical traditions throughout the world.
Islam Today
In Religious Holidays & Calendars
During the early years of Islam, the faith spread throughout the Arabian Peninsula into regions that are today occupied by Saudi Arabia, Syria, Iraq, and Jordan. Contrary to popular opinion, however, Muslims are not just Arabs. Muslims—followers of Islam—are found in many different ethnic groups all over the globe. In fact, Arabs make up less than 20 percent of Muslims.
Muslim Brotherhood
From The Columbia Encyclopedia
Officially Jamiat al-Ikhwan al-Muslimun [Arab.,=Society of Muslim Brothers], religious and political organization founded (1928) in Egypt by Hasan al-Banna.
Osama Bin-Laden (1957 - 2011): Topic Page
An Islamic militant and exponent of terror as a means of political communication.
Pan-Islamism
From Chamber's Dictionary of World History
A movement to unite all Muslims against the threat from Christian states.
Taliban: Topic Page
Afghan political and religious military force that seized control of southern and central Afghanistan, including the country's capital, Kabul, in September 1996. An Islamic regime was imposed, and by the end of 1996 the Taliban controlled two-thirds of the country.

Modern Conflicts

Afghanistan War: Topic Page
US-led military action against Afghanistan beginning 7 October 2001.
Arab-Israeli Wars: Topic Page
Series of wars and territorial conflicts between Israel and various Arab states in the Middle East since the founding of the state of Israel in May 1948. These include the war of 1948-49; the 1956 Suez War between Israel and Egypt; the Six-Day War of 1967, in which Israel captured territory from Syria and Jordan; the October War of 1973; and the 1982-85 war between Israel and Lebanon.
Gulf War: Topic Page
The war (1991) between U.S.-led UN forces and Iraq, following Iraq's invasion of Kuwait.
Intifada: Topic Page
Palestinian uprising, specifically between December 1987 and September 1993, during which time a loosely organized group of Palestinians (the Liberation Army of Palestine, also called Intifada) rebelled against armed Israeli troops in the occupied territories of the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.

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