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

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The first of the Caliphates that succeeded the Islamic Prophet Muhammad the Rashidun Caliphate rapidly expanded to be among the richest, largest and most powerful of realms of its time.

Named "Rightly Guided" in Arabic, the Rashidun Caliphate successfully defeated the weakened Sasanian and Byzantine Empires, managing to take control over most of the middle east, including Egypt, the Levant and Persia.

This was all done despite internal conflicts over succession which would ultimately lead to the split between Shia and Sunni Muslims. Of the four Rashidun Caliphs, only one would die of natural causes as assassinations were rife.

With the failure of Caliph Hasan's brief reign ending in abdication, the torch would be passed to the Umayyad dynasty.

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