caliphates
Muslim political realms
Caliphates are Islamic states governed by a caliph—a successor to the Prophet Muhammad as political and religious leader of the Muslim community.
The term usually refers to historical empires: the Rashidun, Umayyad, Abbasid, and Ottoman caliphates.
In modern usage, caliphate often appears in discussions of ISIS's declared state: The group proclaimed a caliphate spanning parts of Syria and Iraq.
Member of Turkish dynasty
- BaghdadIraqi seat of government
- DamascusSyrian seat of government
- successionFollowing in order
- dynastySuccessive family rulers
sultanate · emirate · conquest · expansion · decline · fall · golden age · medieval
Muslim religious guide
- SunniIslam's largest branch adherent
- ShiaIslam's second-largest branch
- successionFollowing in order
- prophetDivinely inspired messenger
Muhammad · companions · Umar · Ali · schism · legitimacy · divine · mandate
Power to enforce obedience
- sovereigntySupreme independent authority
- leadershipAbility to direct others
- governanceHow authority is exercised
- ruleGoverning principle or standard
legitimacy · succession · unity · restoration · abolition · nationalism · statehood · power
Educational funding or erudition
- librariesPublic book lending institutions
- translationConverting between languages
- philosophyStudy of fundamental truths
- scienceSystematic study through observation
mathematics · astronomy · medicine · architecture · mosques · poetry · literature · patronage
Ottoman
Member of Turkish dynasty
- BaghdadIraqi seat of government
- DamascusSyrian seat of government
- successionFollowing in order
dynasty · sultanate · emirate · conquest · expansion · decline · fall · golden age · medieval · empire
imam
Muslim religious guide
- SunniIslam's largest branch adherent
- ShiaIslam's second-largest branch
- successionFollowing in order
prophet · Muhammad · companions · Umar · Ali · schism · legitimacy · divine · mandate · spiritual
authority
Power to enforce obedience
- sovereigntySupreme independent authority
- leadershipAbility to direct others
- governanceHow authority is exercised
rule · legitimacy · succession · unity · restoration · abolition · nationalism · statehood · power · administration
scholarship
Educational funding or erudition
- librariesPublic book lending institutions
- translationConverting between languages
- philosophyStudy of fundamental truths
science · mathematics · astronomy · medicine · architecture · mosques · poetry · literature · patronage · learning
- territoriesprovince, state, region, country, colony
- Islamic historyQuran, Islamic conquest, Saladin, Baghdad, Damascus
- ancient regimesRoman Empire, Persian Empire, Byzantine Empire, Ottoman Empire, Han dynasty
- Arab citiesBaghdad, Cairo, Damascus, Aleppo, Marrakech
- African Islamimams, mosques, madrasas, Timbuktu, Islamic education
- Medieval LevantDamascus, Saladin, Mamluks, Holy Land, Levant
caliphatesconstitutional monarchies
Realms with ceremonial sovereigns
nation-states · liberal democracies · Soviet Union · People's Republic of China · democracies
caliphatesChristendom
Collective Christian world
papacy · Holy Roman Empire · Byzantine Empire · Vatican City
caliphatesnation-states
Self-governing territorial polities
national borders · balkanization · city-states · emirates · sultanates
- Umayyad CaliphateEarly Islamic dynastic empire
- Sokoto CaliphateFulani-led Islamic state, Nigeria
- Fatimid CaliphateShia dynasty ruling medieval Egypt
- Rashidun CaliphateFirst major Islamic successor state