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Expansion Under Umayyad Rule
The Umayyad Empire saw most of the expansion in Islamic history. The
rulers were mostly brilliant militarily and politically. A map of
Islamic expansion in Asia is below and a table of Umayyad rulers.
| Ruler
|
From |
To |
| Muawiya I |
661 |
680 |
| Yezid I |
680 |
683 |
| Muawiya II |
683 |
684 |
| Merwan I |
684 |
685 |
| Abd al-Malik |
685 |
705 |
| al-Walid I |
705 |
715 |
| Suleiman |
715 |
717 |
| Umar II |
717 |
720 |
| Yezid II |
720 |
724 |
| Hisham |
724 |
743 |
| al-Walid II |
743 |
744 |
| Yezid III |
744 |
744 |
| Ibrahim |
744 |
744 |
| Merwan II |
744 |
750 |
The Umayyad leader wrested Damascus from
the Byzantines in 635 CE and made it his capital. For 25 years he
waited, as governor of Syria, building up an army and friends.
When Ali was assasinated, he was able to take control.Then,
setting up the government by sending out close friends to control
matters at home, he began his westward conquests (below). He also
seiged Constantinople from 670-677.
The conquest of the Berbers
was a long and arduous process. The Berbers fought bitterly
against converting to Islam. When they were finally subdued in
711, The Muslim conqueres absorbed Berber culture. Then, with the
help of the Berbers, they crossed the Strait of Gibraltar. It was said that the Muslims
burned their boats because they were so determined to capture the
Iberian peninsula. In about 7 years, the Muslims had overran much
of Spain. Also, in 716-717, there was another failed seige of
Constantinople.
During this time, the
Umayyad caliphs had become more interested in worldly goods and
less interested in religion an example are the famous palace in Damascus. Meanwhile the Umayyad economy was in
the dumps and dissent was
growing. The Muslim army was massacred in the Battle of
Tours(Poiters) in 732 CE by the French King, Charles Martel. This
ended the expansion of the Umayyads into Europe.
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