The Umayyad Caliphate History Quiz

The Umayyad Caliphate

• The Umayyad Caliphate was the second caliphate established after the death of the Prophet Muhammad.
• It lasted approximately 370 years.
• The capital city of the first Umayyad empire was Damascus.
• It was established by Muawiyah bin Abi Sufyan, who was the writer of the revelation and continued his dynasty.
• The empire was geographically divided into different provinces, each with a governor appointed by the caliph.
• The Umayyad army was primarily composed of Arab soldiers.
• The Umayyad Caliphate used Byzantine coinage initially, but later began minting its own coins in Damascus, becoming the first Muslim government to do so historically.
• The Caliphate witnessed the construction of significant architectural marvels, including the Dome of the Rock Mosque in Jerusalem and the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus.
• The Umayyad period is considered a formative period in Islamic art, marked by the adoption, adaptation, and creation of new artistic expressions that became distinctly Islamic.

Umayyad Caliphate - Key Facts

• The empire covered a vast area, including parts of Africa, Europe, Asia and the Middle East, reaching approximately 11,100,000 square kilometers.
• The empire's expansion significantly impacted the cultural diffusion and exchange of knowledge during that era.
• The fall of the Umayyad Caliphate occurred in 750 CE.
• The Umayyad Caliphate was eventually replaced by the Abbasids.
• Survivors of the Umayyad Caliphate established a new center of academic excellence in Cordoba.

Umayyad Caliphs

• The Umayyad caliphs spanned two periods, the period of the first Caliphate that lasted 70 years, and a second period extending for another 280 years.
• Key city capitals during the first period were Damascus, and later Cordoba and Zahraa.
• Figures like Muawiyah ibn Abi Sufyan, Sulaiman bin Abd-Almalk, Omar bin Abd-Alaziz, Abdul Rahman al-Dakhil, Abdul Rahman Alnasir, and Hisham bin Mohammed are mentioned as examples, possibly from different regions of the empire.

Art of the Umayyad Period

• The art of this era displayed a unique style that incorporated elements of existing cultures, creating a new Islamic art.
• Artefacts include vessels, woven tapestry fragments, and slabs.

Timeline of the Umayyad Caliphate

• 622: The start of the second period or Umayyad Caliphate.
• 661-750: Umayyad period/Reign.
• 746: The first Ummayad Caliphate fell and signaled the start of the second period.
• 760: Abo muslim's revolution started
• 711-720: Opening of the Iberian Peninsula to Islamic rule.
• 760: The beginning of the period marked the decline of the Caliphate.
• 1031: Fall of the Umayyad state.

Other Information

• Islamic contributions in philosophy, science, and medicine flourished in the regions under Umayyad rule, especially in Cordoba, which became a major intellectual center for a time.
• The presentation emphasized the significant cultural and intellectual contributions of the Arabs during the Umayyad Caliphate.  

Test your knowledge about the Umayyad Caliphate, the second caliphate established after the Prophet Muhammad. This quiz covers key aspects like its duration, capital, governance, military, coinage, and architectural achievements. Explore the formative period of Islamic art and its lasting impact on history.