Early Islamic Period in Egypt

Early Islamic Period in Egypt. Islamic Egyptian History. Early Islamic Period. After the death of the Prophet Mohammed the Muslims fought wars against the Byzantine, Persians, Berbers and Goths which resulted in the fall of the Persian Kingdom and the loss of the Byzantine terrortories in the Levant Khalife Omar Khettab kept telling the Commander Amr ibn Al-Aas that Egypt must be taken because without Egypt previous wars which had been fought and won were now safe , but could be taken back by the Byzantines who were in control of Egypt at this time via way of Alexandria. There are many factors that made Omar ibn-Khattab agree to the conquest of Egypt below are just a couple of examples. • Omar Khettab realized that control of Muslims over the Levant would not be complete as long as there was a Roman Fleet in the Meditteranean, • Amr ibn Al-Aas was aware that the Copts were suffering from the Roman persecution and were waiting for someone to save them. Umayyad Period, One of the most dynamic Islamic Caliphates in the Islamic authorities through the different Islamic Dynasties was the Umayyad Caliphate. The Umayyad Caliphate controlled the Islamic Empire from 661-750 Common Era, which succeeded the Rashidun Caliphate when Miawiyah I became Caliph after the first Muslim Civil War, Muawiyah I confirmed his Capital in the City of Damascus where the Umayyads would rule the Islamic Empire for approx..100 Years.After the Umayyad Caliphate came to an end in 750 the Abbasids took power. Abbasids Period. The Abbasids Caliphate which was formed in Baghdad after a revolt against the Umayyads in the 8th Century.The Fatimid Caliphate in the 9th Century which originated in Modern Tunisia, took control of Egypt from the Abbasids and confirmed a new Capital called Al-Qahirah from which Modern Cairo acquired its name. The Fatimids in 117AD succomed to the Ayyubid Caliphate which was initiated by the famous General of the Crusades Salah Ad-Din, Egypt remained an integral part of the Muslim World during all of the changes in Government. Under the Roman and Greek control the Nile Valley was a strong economic importance as a producer of grain, where as under the Fatimids and Ayyubid Caliphates Egypt and the Capital Cairo were of great political and geographical importance. The captivating constructions that still adorn Islamic Cairo are proof of the influence and wealth that came to Cairo as the Capital of these important Governments. Throughout these Centuries the Egyptian people changed with their Governments and the Egyptians gradually converted to Islam. The Tax anxiety on the Non-Muslims was very high, which was in contrast to the more lenient treatment of the non-Muslims by the Rashiduns which made conversion a practical matter. During the Crusades the rate of conversion increased when the difference of opinion between the European Christians and the Muslim Government politisized religion. After the failure of the Abbasids Period other Islamic took control i.e. Tunid Period,the 2nd Abbasid Period and Ikhsidid Period. Byzantine Rule. The appearance of Islam in Egypt was well timed as Egypt had only been recently taken back by the Byzantine Empire after the brief invasion by the Persian Sassanid Empire. Also the Egyptian Coptic Christians were suffering under the Byzantine Governors which was in respect of a theological conflict between the Byzantine and the Coptic Church. The passion of the Byzantines to eradicate this divergent theology in Egypt made it uncomplicated for the Egyptian Christians to accept the Muslim conquest in respect that the Rashidan Caliphate asked that non-Muslims in comquered lands pay tax in return for exemption from Military Service within the Rashidan Army.