What was the Umayyad Caliphate?
Q: What was the Umayyad Caliphate?
A: The Umayyad Caliphate was the second of the four major Islamic caliphates established after the death of Muhammad. It was the largest empire in the world at the time and is considered to be one of the five largest empires in history.
Q: Who ruled over it?
A: The Umayyad Dynasty (Arabic: بنو أمية, Banu Umayyah) ruled over it. They were from Mecca, which is located in present-day Saudi Arabia.
Q: Where was its capital located?
A: Its capital was located in Damascus from 661–744, Harrran from 744–750, and Córdoba (756–1031) when they were in exile.
Q: How long did this caliphate last for?
A: This caliphate lasted for about 370 years until 1031 AD.
Q: What other caliphates existed before this one?
A: Before this caliphate, there were three other major Islamic caliphates that had been established after Muhammad's death - Rashidun Caliphate, Umayyad Caliphate, and Abbasid Caliphate.
Q: What language did they speak during this period? A: During this period, Arabic was primarily spoken by those living within the empire.
Q: What religion did they practice during this period? A: Islam was practiced by those living within the empire during this period.
