TED-Ed: The rise and fall of the medieval Islamic Empire | Petra Sijpesteijn and Birte Kristiansen

In the 7th century, Prophet Muhammad united Arabian tribes under Islam, forming a powerful empire. After his death, caliphs expanded the empire, but internal conflicts arose. The Umayyad dynasty stabilized the empire but faced legitimacy issues. The Abbasids overthrew them, establishing a culturally rich era in Baghdad. However, unclear succession led to corruption. In 1258, the Mongols destroyed Baghdad, ending the caliphate's symbolic rule. Despite its fall, the Islamic empire's influence persisted through language, religion, and intellectual contributions.

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