Skip to contentUmayyad Caliphate Occupation of Israel
- Rise of the Umayyad Caliphate:
- The Umayyad Caliphate was established in 661 by Muawiya I after the end of the First Fitna, a series of civil wars within the early Islamic community. The Umayyads shifted the capital from Medina to Damascus, centralizing power in the new Umayyad city.
- Umayyad Rule in the Holy Land:
- Administrative Reorganization: The region encompassing modern-day Israel was part of the larger administrative district of Jund Filastin within the Umayyad Caliphate.
- Jerusalem: During the Umayyad period, Jerusalem became a significant religious and administrative center. In 691, Caliph Abd al-Malik commissioned the Dome of the Rock (Qubbat al-Sakhra) on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. This architectural marvel remains one of the most important and enduring symbols of early Islamic architecture and religious significance.
- Architectural Developments: The Umayyads also focused on urban development. Cities such as Jerusalem and Ramla were expanded and developed, with Ramla becoming an important administrative center under the Umayyads.
- Decline and Fall:
- The Umayyad Caliphate faced internal challenges and revolts, including opposition from the Abbasids, who sought to replace the Umayyads. The Abbasid revolution culminated in the overthrow of the Umayyads in 750. The Abbasids established their caliphate with a new capital in Baghdad, marking the end of Umayyad rule.