Date

Event

ca. 570

Muhammad born in Mecca

622

Muhammad leaves Mecca for Madina [=the Hijra]

630

Mecca surrenders to Muhammad and his followers.

632

Death of Muhammad.

632-661

Period of first four Caliphs: Abu Bakr, 'Umar, 'Uthman, and 'Ali (the last, Muhammad's son-in-law, whose descendents considered later by Shi'ites to represent true successors to Muhammad.

633

First victory of Arabs over Sasanians.

636

Arab conquest of Syria completed by victory at Yarmuk

Arab defeat of Sasanians at al-Qadisiyya, leading to control of all Mesapotamia by following year.

early 650s

Arab conquest of Seistan and Khurasan (NE Iran).

661-750

Umayyid Caliphs, with capital at Damascus.

673

Arab raids to Bukhara, across Oxus R.

680

Arab raids to Khwarizm, Samarkand.

691-692

Dome of the Rock built in Jerusalem; simultaneous with Umayyid monetary reform moving to abstract designs and calligraphy on coins.

705

Beginning of systematic Arab conquest of Transoxiana by Governor of Khurasan, Qutaiba b. Muslim.

710

Beginning of Muslim conquest of Spain.

712

Arabs take Samarkand.

713

Arab embassy to China.

722

Soghdian ruler of Panjikent, Divashtich, surrenders to Arabs at Mt. Mug in upper Zeravshan Valley.

740s

Bihafarid movement in Khurasan.

744-748

Abbasid revolt, with key role played by Abu Muslim in Khurasan.

750

Establishment of Abbasid Caliphate, capital to be in Baghdad.

751

Arabs defeat Chinese in battle of Talas (N. Kyrgyzstan); probably battle result of Muslim foes fleeing to China asking Chinese Emperor for aid.

754

Rebellion of Sunbadh in NE Iran.

759-779

Career of al-Muqanna, rebel-prophet in Khurasan.

762

Building of Baghdad as seat of Abbasids by Caliph Mansur.

821-873

Tahirids rule Khurasan under nominal suzerainty of Abbasids.

874/875

Isma'il Samani becomes governor of Bukhara.