Military Victories
Following the footsteps of Muhammad, the 5 Caliphs led many conquests in order to expand their empire. The Muslim empire rapidly expanded and they soon were the second largest empire in size next to China.
Beginning in Abu Bakr's time as Caliph, his first task was to conquer the Bedouins, or nomadic Arabs who rejected Islam after the death of Muhammad. "After several battles with the wavering tribes, Abu Bakr succeeded in reuniting the Muslims, based on their allegiance to Islam. Once reunited, they began converting the remaining Arab tribes to Islam which ended warfare between Arabs and united them under one leader," (World History Textbook page 310 paragraph 3). Abu Bakr used violence to expand and strengthen the safety within his growing empire. Following his victories, he showed the prisoners the religion of Islam and they were drawn to the strong leadership and power of the Muslim community, therefore creating many new Islam converts.
Under the ruling of the next Caliph, Umar, many more conquests were under seige. He conquered Damascus in 635 and Jerusalem in 637. Once he secured these two new cities in Syria, he succeeded in conquering the Sassanid capital, Ctesiphon, also in 637. Next, he set out further west into Egypt. He conquered Babylon in 641, and Alexandria in 642 with the help of his new Muslim Syria. In a span of seven years Umar was incredibly successful. The growing empire thrived under his rule.
Next, following the assasination of Umar, Uthman came into power. During his rule, the Byzantines attempted to regain Alexandria in 645. Uthman's troops prevented this from happening. He then went further west of Egypt and conquered Cyprus in 649. By the end of his rule, the Muslim empire had expanded as far as the easternmost boundary of Persia in 653. Uthman's caliphate was a successful one indeed, but other than his two military victories he did nothing else to better his empire.
Ali nominated himself Caliph after Uthmans death which was challenged by Muawiyah resulting in the "War of the Camel." Ali's rule was short lived, filled with endless civil wars.
In the fifth and final Caliphate, led by the Umayyads and Muawiyah, military victories were abundant. "From Egypt, Arab Muslim armies moved west, defeating the Byzantine forces across North Africa. In 711, Muslim forces crossed the Straight of Gibraltar and conquered Spain. In 731, a Muslim army moved north into France to settle new areas. There they were defeated by Frankish troops at the Battle of Tours. Muslim forces led parts of Spain for centuries but advanced no further into Europe," (World History Textbook page 312 paragraph 6). The Umayyad Caliphs military success was outstanding. They continued to expand throughout the centuries.
The 5 Caliphs were strong in Military knowledge and strategy, hence their countless victories. They followed Muhammads path as Military leader and politician which led the Empire to new heights like a rapid expansion who's land is now home to over a billion Muslims. They conquered many people throughout their conquests and most of them were so drawn to the power of Islam that they wanted to convert. They wanted to be like those military leaders who had nothing but success and a place in society. These people were treated fair and were allowed to practice their religion and own land as long as they paid a tax. So the majority of these new citizens ended up converting not only for enconomical and political gain but also for a spiritiual advantage to grow closer to god.
Beginning in Abu Bakr's time as Caliph, his first task was to conquer the Bedouins, or nomadic Arabs who rejected Islam after the death of Muhammad. "After several battles with the wavering tribes, Abu Bakr succeeded in reuniting the Muslims, based on their allegiance to Islam. Once reunited, they began converting the remaining Arab tribes to Islam which ended warfare between Arabs and united them under one leader," (World History Textbook page 310 paragraph 3). Abu Bakr used violence to expand and strengthen the safety within his growing empire. Following his victories, he showed the prisoners the religion of Islam and they were drawn to the strong leadership and power of the Muslim community, therefore creating many new Islam converts.
Under the ruling of the next Caliph, Umar, many more conquests were under seige. He conquered Damascus in 635 and Jerusalem in 637. Once he secured these two new cities in Syria, he succeeded in conquering the Sassanid capital, Ctesiphon, also in 637. Next, he set out further west into Egypt. He conquered Babylon in 641, and Alexandria in 642 with the help of his new Muslim Syria. In a span of seven years Umar was incredibly successful. The growing empire thrived under his rule.
Next, following the assasination of Umar, Uthman came into power. During his rule, the Byzantines attempted to regain Alexandria in 645. Uthman's troops prevented this from happening. He then went further west of Egypt and conquered Cyprus in 649. By the end of his rule, the Muslim empire had expanded as far as the easternmost boundary of Persia in 653. Uthman's caliphate was a successful one indeed, but other than his two military victories he did nothing else to better his empire.
Ali nominated himself Caliph after Uthmans death which was challenged by Muawiyah resulting in the "War of the Camel." Ali's rule was short lived, filled with endless civil wars.
In the fifth and final Caliphate, led by the Umayyads and Muawiyah, military victories were abundant. "From Egypt, Arab Muslim armies moved west, defeating the Byzantine forces across North Africa. In 711, Muslim forces crossed the Straight of Gibraltar and conquered Spain. In 731, a Muslim army moved north into France to settle new areas. There they were defeated by Frankish troops at the Battle of Tours. Muslim forces led parts of Spain for centuries but advanced no further into Europe," (World History Textbook page 312 paragraph 6). The Umayyad Caliphs military success was outstanding. They continued to expand throughout the centuries.
The 5 Caliphs were strong in Military knowledge and strategy, hence their countless victories. They followed Muhammads path as Military leader and politician which led the Empire to new heights like a rapid expansion who's land is now home to over a billion Muslims. They conquered many people throughout their conquests and most of them were so drawn to the power of Islam that they wanted to convert. They wanted to be like those military leaders who had nothing but success and a place in society. These people were treated fair and were allowed to practice their religion and own land as long as they paid a tax. So the majority of these new citizens ended up converting not only for enconomical and political gain but also for a spiritiual advantage to grow closer to god.