Rashidun Caliphate (jan 1, 632 – jan 1, 661)

Description:

The Rashidun Caliphate began immediately after the death of Muhammed. Following Muhammed's death, Abu Bakr took power and transformed the Muhammed's followers into an empire. Under Abu Bark and his three successors: Umar, Uthman, and Ali, the Islamic Empire grew to encompass the Near East and parts of northern Africa and Anatolia.

Rashidun means the "Rightly Guided." These caliphs are highly respected by Sunni Muslims and this period of time is regarded as a golden age, however, the Shi'a who insist on a direct line of descent disagree and see only Ali, Muhammed's son, as a Rightly Guided caliph. While the official division between the sects wouldn't be solidified until the Umayyad Caliphate, the tensions were rising throughout the Rashidun caliphate.

Additional Sources:

Image - Wikipedia

Urban, Elizabeth. "Rashidun Caliphate." Encyclopedia of Empire, edited by John Mackenzie, Wiley, 2016. Credo Reference, http://ezproxy.macalester.edu/login?url=https://search.credoreference.com/content/entry/wileyempire/rashidun_caliphate/0?institutionId=742. Accessed 29 Apr. 2018.

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