This is a stab at an Arab timeline. I want some opinions on it, no matter how critical they may be. This is just a rough draft and I want to iron some stuff out before I post most of the Byzantine stuff. Even I was a bit iffy when coming up with this timeline. So here we go...
Legacy of St. Muhammad
571 – Muhammad is born in Mecca.
582 – Contact with Byzantine traders gives Muhammad an interest in Christianity.
585 – Muhammad leaves Mecca with Byzantine traders, eventually ending up in Jerusalem, where he converts to Orthodox Christianity. He continues to work with the traders for the time being.
587 – In Constantinople, Muhammad begins studying to become a priest. His superiors note his piety and enthusiasm about the Christian faith. He will complete his studies in a year.
588-596 – Muhammad returns to Jerusalem, where he will preach for six years and earn a good reputation in the church.
596 – Muhammad claims to receive a visit from Jesus during a dream, who dictates what will eventually become the Book of Muhammad. Muhammad would also claim Jesus gave him a mission to convert the Arabs to Christianity. After this visitation, Muhammad writes the Patriarch of Constantinople, requesting a transfer to Mecca in order to convert the Arabs. Needing possible allies against the Persians, the Patriarch agrees.
597-600 – Years of Records. Muhammad begins preaching in Mecca. He also begins work on translating the Bible to Arabic as well as writing the Book of Muhammad, which he claims has direct revelations from Jesus Christ. The religion Muhammad begins to preach is a form of dualistic Christianity, one in which Allah and Satan are adversary gods battling over the souls of mankind. Muhammad preaches against idolatry, which he considers to be the work of Satan on Earth. The dualistic preaching upsets many of Muhammad's contemporaries as many Arabs begin converting to Christianity en mass because of Muhammad's teachings. Some of his contemporaries in Mecca are swayed by Muhammad's revelations and begin following his teachings.
601 – Muhammad is accused of heresy by the church and asked to return to Constantinople to be defrocked. Muhammad refuses and his followers set up their own church. This sect of Christianity is generally called Muhammadism. Tenants of this religion are:
-The dualistic relationship between good and evil, with good personified by God, or Allah, and evil dominated by Satan. Satan is considered a god as well, but one not to be worshiped.
-Jesus is the son of Allah and is the salvation of mankind from Satan.
-Some common elements with OTL Islam, such as the need to pray often and practice cleanliness. Pigs are also considered unclean animals.
601-632 – Years of Conversion. Muhammad begins preaching all over Arabia. Chieftains begin converting to Christianity once Mecca has been converted. Mecca becomes a holy site much like Jerusalem and Rome. Some bloodshed occurs as many leaders resist conversion. By the time of Muhammad's death, most of Arabia is unified under his version of Christianity. Muhammad is considered a major spiritual leader, but also displayed prowess as a military leader and performed admirably as an administrator. Abu Bakr becomes the first Caliph, or successor, upon Muhammad's death.
634 – Abu Bakr dies. He had been working to unify Arabia. Umar succeeds Abu Bakr as Caliph. In Europe, the Eastern Roman Empire drives the Lombards out of Italy. Roman rule is restored to Rome. Pope Honorius I crowns Heraclius Emperor of Rome. East and West are reunited for the first time in centuries. As a result, Heraclius scales back the Hellenization of the Eastern Roman Empire.
635-637 – Conquest of the Sassanids. In an effort to expand Christianity, Umar decided against invading the strengthened Roman Empire and attacked the Sassanids. Exhausted from their war against the Romans, the Sassanids can do little as the Arabs quickly seize Mesopotamia and penetrate into Persia, effectively destroying the Sassanid Empire and establishing the Arabian Caliphate as a major force in the Middle East. Rather than turn his armies against fellow Christians, Umar set about consolidating his Empire. He planned to go along the route taken by Alexander into India. It is also during this period that Umar begins codifying Arab Law.
637-644 – Push to the East. Umar leads Arab armies east after destroying the Sassanid Empire, destroying tribes and converting others to Christianity. Bactria comes under Arabic rule in 640. It is also during this year that the Arabs begin penetrating India, conquering the Indus River Valley in 642. Umar's forces dominate much of northwestern India by 644. Umar dies during a campaign under mysterious circumstances, giving India a much needed breather. Uthman ultimately succeeds Umar.
641 – Emperor Heraclius dies. Constantine III inherits the Roman Empire. Unlike in OTL, he will have a long reign, establishing a second Pax Romana.
644-656 – The Reign of Uthman. Uthman's reign as Caliph was quieter than his predecessors. Uthman concentrated on consolidating the gains of Umar and continued the codification of Arabic Law. He orders the construction of the Temple of Allah, a grand mosque that would rival the Hagia Sophia in Constantinople. Uthman begins preparing expeditions into India during the later years of his reign, but dies in 656 before the armies can depart.
656-661 – The Reign of Ali. Ali, cousin of Muhammad, becomes Caliph following the death of Uthman. Plans for further incursions into India are called off by Ali, but the frontier is strengthened under his reign as Caliph. Ali moved the capital of the Caliphate from Mecca to Kufa in Mesopotamia in order to better manage the nation. He was assassinated in 661 by religious zealots hoping to gain more conquests.
661-680 – Ascension of the Umayyad Dynasty. Muawiyah I becomes Caliph following the assassination of Ali. Unlike his predecessors, the new Caliph wants to continue the expansion of the empire begun by Umar. The frontier along the Indus River is reinforced and Arab armies begin pouring into India in 664. For years, many princes along the border had been paying tribute to the Arabs and some even converted to Christianity. Muawiyah I demanded tribute in the form of troops from many princes, only to absorb these territories into the Caliphate. The campaign is considered brutal by many, but the Arabs display a zealous spirit of conquest and by 670, India is fully under Arab control. Arab expeditions also lead to the conquest of Ceylon (666).
Muawiyah I also expanded Kufa, establishing a major imperial court in the city. Trade with Byzantium enriched the Caliphate. Muawiyah I ordered the construction of a new mosque and a university in Kufa. It was clear to many that the capital would not be in Arabia anymore as Kufa became a central hub in the Middle East, connected by overland trade routes to Europe, North Africa and the Far East due to the Arab conquest of Persia, Bactria, and India. Muawiyah I would die in 680, leaving behind a strong Caliphate for his successor to inherit.
664 – Constantine III dies. His son, Constans II succeeds him as Roman Emperor.
680-683 – Reign of Yazid I. Selected by his father to become Caliph, Yazid I faced opposition against Husayn ibn Ali, grandson of the assassinated Caliph Ali. Husayn's forces marched from Mecca to Kufa to confront Yazid's armies, only to be decimated at the Battle of Karbala on October 10, 680. Yazid's reign was faced with more opposition, including a revolt in Arabia. Yazid laid siege to Mecca, only to die suddenly in 683.
683-684 – Reign of Muawiyah II. Succeeding his father as Caliph, Muawiyah II met intense opposition in Arabia. He was unwilling to quell the revolt and eventually abdicated.
684-685 – Reign of Marwan I. Marwan I gained the title of Caliph following his predecessor's abdication, but inherited an empire in revolt. He quelled the rebellion in Arabia and reestablished his control in the region. His reign would be cut short with his death in 685, but his deeds solidified the empire for his successor.
685-705 – Reign of Abd al-Malik. Succeeding his father, Abd al-Malik sought to stabilize the Caliphate. First, he had to reassert control over India, whose population grew bold during the Arab revolt. India was in the slow process of Christianizing and provided little trouble for the Arab Empire. Abd al-Malik also made Arabic the official language of the empire, established a mint that produced a uniform currency and expanded and reorganized the postal service. Under his reign, Dehli became a major center of Christianity in the Arab empire as old Hindu and Buddhist traditions began to die out. Good relations with Constantinople continued during Abd al-Malik's reign as Caliph. He would die in 705.
705-715 – Reign of Al-Walid I. Son of Abd al-Malik, Al-Walid I was bent on expanding the empire's borders. Arab forces began to expand beyond the Ganges River, eventually penetrating into Burma. Much of Indonesia would also fall under Arab control in 713. Relations with Constantinople began to cool during the reign of Al-Walid I, which ended with his death in 715.
715-717 – Reign of Suleiman. Suleiman was the brother of the previous Caliph and governor of Hejaz. He did not continue expanding the empire, sensing that it was reaching its limits. Rather than following hereditary succession, Suleiman would appoint his own successor before he died in 717.
717-720 – Reign of Umar II. Like his predecessor, Umar II would have a peaceful reign over the empire, but it did not mean he abandoned all ideas of expansion. By the end of his reign, the Arab Empire reached its greatest extent, stretching from the southern coast of Arabia, to the mountains of Iran in the North, and the Himalayas, parts of Burma and Indonesia in the east.
720-724 – Reign of Yazid II. Cousin of the previous Caliph, Yazid II inherited an empire that began to decline. Revolts broke out in India and Indonesia. Unable to put down revolts in Indonesia led to its permanent loss to the empire. In India, the reprisals from the Umayyids were heavy handed.
724-743 – Reign of Hisham. Hisham would succeed in putting down the first rebellion in India in 726, but the subcontinent would always be on the verge of rebellion. As a result, many Arab soldiers were stationed in India. Hisham did his best to stabilize the empire, but found it difficult to manage. Bureaucracy grew to unheard of proportions during Hisham's reign, which stifled many of his attempts at reform and ultimately sowed the seeds for the rise of the Abbasids.
743-744 – Reign of Al-Walid II. Decadence would rule Al-Walid II's short reign as Caliph. He accomplished little during his reign and was assassinated in 744.
744 – Year of Four Caliphs. Yazid III would have the shortest reign of any Caliph (only six months). He quickly lost the support of the army for his refusal to meet his predecessor's pay promises and was assassinated. Ibrahim succeeded Yazid III that year, but his succession was not supported and he was forced to abdicate and flee. Marwin II would come to the throne next.
744-750 – Reign of Marwin II and the Fall of the Arab Empire. India immediately revolted in 744, forcing the Umayyads to move to suppress the revolt. However, problems soon erupted throughout the empire and it began to fall apart at the seams. The Abbasids gained many followers in Iran and India. Relations with Byzantium, poor for decades, culminated in an invasion in 748. Byzantine forces invaded Arabia and Iraq, eventually sacking the Umayyad capital of Kufa in 750. Marwin II and many of his relatives were killed in the battle for Kufa and this event tore the Arab Empire to shreds. India quickly broke away and the Abbasids consolidated their power in Iran. The remaining Umayyads retreated into Arabia as the Roman Empire annexed Mesopotamia and much of the Trans-Caucasus.
The Arab Empire was split into three successor states: the Umayyad Caliphate of Arabia, the Abbasid Caliphate of Iran and the Caliphate of India.
Legacy of St. Muhammad
571 – Muhammad is born in Mecca.
582 – Contact with Byzantine traders gives Muhammad an interest in Christianity.
585 – Muhammad leaves Mecca with Byzantine traders, eventually ending up in Jerusalem, where he converts to Orthodox Christianity. He continues to work with the traders for the time being.
587 – In Constantinople, Muhammad begins studying to become a priest. His superiors note his piety and enthusiasm about the Christian faith. He will complete his studies in a year.
588-596 – Muhammad returns to Jerusalem, where he will preach for six years and earn a good reputation in the church.
596 – Muhammad claims to receive a visit from Jesus during a dream, who dictates what will eventually become the Book of Muhammad. Muhammad would also claim Jesus gave him a mission to convert the Arabs to Christianity. After this visitation, Muhammad writes the Patriarch of Constantinople, requesting a transfer to Mecca in order to convert the Arabs. Needing possible allies against the Persians, the Patriarch agrees.
597-600 – Years of Records. Muhammad begins preaching in Mecca. He also begins work on translating the Bible to Arabic as well as writing the Book of Muhammad, which he claims has direct revelations from Jesus Christ. The religion Muhammad begins to preach is a form of dualistic Christianity, one in which Allah and Satan are adversary gods battling over the souls of mankind. Muhammad preaches against idolatry, which he considers to be the work of Satan on Earth. The dualistic preaching upsets many of Muhammad's contemporaries as many Arabs begin converting to Christianity en mass because of Muhammad's teachings. Some of his contemporaries in Mecca are swayed by Muhammad's revelations and begin following his teachings.
601 – Muhammad is accused of heresy by the church and asked to return to Constantinople to be defrocked. Muhammad refuses and his followers set up their own church. This sect of Christianity is generally called Muhammadism. Tenants of this religion are:
-The dualistic relationship between good and evil, with good personified by God, or Allah, and evil dominated by Satan. Satan is considered a god as well, but one not to be worshiped.
-Jesus is the son of Allah and is the salvation of mankind from Satan.
-Some common elements with OTL Islam, such as the need to pray often and practice cleanliness. Pigs are also considered unclean animals.
601-632 – Years of Conversion. Muhammad begins preaching all over Arabia. Chieftains begin converting to Christianity once Mecca has been converted. Mecca becomes a holy site much like Jerusalem and Rome. Some bloodshed occurs as many leaders resist conversion. By the time of Muhammad's death, most of Arabia is unified under his version of Christianity. Muhammad is considered a major spiritual leader, but also displayed prowess as a military leader and performed admirably as an administrator. Abu Bakr becomes the first Caliph, or successor, upon Muhammad's death.
634 – Abu Bakr dies. He had been working to unify Arabia. Umar succeeds Abu Bakr as Caliph. In Europe, the Eastern Roman Empire drives the Lombards out of Italy. Roman rule is restored to Rome. Pope Honorius I crowns Heraclius Emperor of Rome. East and West are reunited for the first time in centuries. As a result, Heraclius scales back the Hellenization of the Eastern Roman Empire.
635-637 – Conquest of the Sassanids. In an effort to expand Christianity, Umar decided against invading the strengthened Roman Empire and attacked the Sassanids. Exhausted from their war against the Romans, the Sassanids can do little as the Arabs quickly seize Mesopotamia and penetrate into Persia, effectively destroying the Sassanid Empire and establishing the Arabian Caliphate as a major force in the Middle East. Rather than turn his armies against fellow Christians, Umar set about consolidating his Empire. He planned to go along the route taken by Alexander into India. It is also during this period that Umar begins codifying Arab Law.
637-644 – Push to the East. Umar leads Arab armies east after destroying the Sassanid Empire, destroying tribes and converting others to Christianity. Bactria comes under Arabic rule in 640. It is also during this year that the Arabs begin penetrating India, conquering the Indus River Valley in 642. Umar's forces dominate much of northwestern India by 644. Umar dies during a campaign under mysterious circumstances, giving India a much needed breather. Uthman ultimately succeeds Umar.
641 – Emperor Heraclius dies. Constantine III inherits the Roman Empire. Unlike in OTL, he will have a long reign, establishing a second Pax Romana.
644-656 – The Reign of Uthman. Uthman's reign as Caliph was quieter than his predecessors. Uthman concentrated on consolidating the gains of Umar and continued the codification of Arabic Law. He orders the construction of the Temple of Allah, a grand mosque that would rival the Hagia Sophia in Constantinople. Uthman begins preparing expeditions into India during the later years of his reign, but dies in 656 before the armies can depart.
656-661 – The Reign of Ali. Ali, cousin of Muhammad, becomes Caliph following the death of Uthman. Plans for further incursions into India are called off by Ali, but the frontier is strengthened under his reign as Caliph. Ali moved the capital of the Caliphate from Mecca to Kufa in Mesopotamia in order to better manage the nation. He was assassinated in 661 by religious zealots hoping to gain more conquests.
661-680 – Ascension of the Umayyad Dynasty. Muawiyah I becomes Caliph following the assassination of Ali. Unlike his predecessors, the new Caliph wants to continue the expansion of the empire begun by Umar. The frontier along the Indus River is reinforced and Arab armies begin pouring into India in 664. For years, many princes along the border had been paying tribute to the Arabs and some even converted to Christianity. Muawiyah I demanded tribute in the form of troops from many princes, only to absorb these territories into the Caliphate. The campaign is considered brutal by many, but the Arabs display a zealous spirit of conquest and by 670, India is fully under Arab control. Arab expeditions also lead to the conquest of Ceylon (666).
Muawiyah I also expanded Kufa, establishing a major imperial court in the city. Trade with Byzantium enriched the Caliphate. Muawiyah I ordered the construction of a new mosque and a university in Kufa. It was clear to many that the capital would not be in Arabia anymore as Kufa became a central hub in the Middle East, connected by overland trade routes to Europe, North Africa and the Far East due to the Arab conquest of Persia, Bactria, and India. Muawiyah I would die in 680, leaving behind a strong Caliphate for his successor to inherit.
664 – Constantine III dies. His son, Constans II succeeds him as Roman Emperor.
680-683 – Reign of Yazid I. Selected by his father to become Caliph, Yazid I faced opposition against Husayn ibn Ali, grandson of the assassinated Caliph Ali. Husayn's forces marched from Mecca to Kufa to confront Yazid's armies, only to be decimated at the Battle of Karbala on October 10, 680. Yazid's reign was faced with more opposition, including a revolt in Arabia. Yazid laid siege to Mecca, only to die suddenly in 683.
683-684 – Reign of Muawiyah II. Succeeding his father as Caliph, Muawiyah II met intense opposition in Arabia. He was unwilling to quell the revolt and eventually abdicated.
684-685 – Reign of Marwan I. Marwan I gained the title of Caliph following his predecessor's abdication, but inherited an empire in revolt. He quelled the rebellion in Arabia and reestablished his control in the region. His reign would be cut short with his death in 685, but his deeds solidified the empire for his successor.
685-705 – Reign of Abd al-Malik. Succeeding his father, Abd al-Malik sought to stabilize the Caliphate. First, he had to reassert control over India, whose population grew bold during the Arab revolt. India was in the slow process of Christianizing and provided little trouble for the Arab Empire. Abd al-Malik also made Arabic the official language of the empire, established a mint that produced a uniform currency and expanded and reorganized the postal service. Under his reign, Dehli became a major center of Christianity in the Arab empire as old Hindu and Buddhist traditions began to die out. Good relations with Constantinople continued during Abd al-Malik's reign as Caliph. He would die in 705.
705-715 – Reign of Al-Walid I. Son of Abd al-Malik, Al-Walid I was bent on expanding the empire's borders. Arab forces began to expand beyond the Ganges River, eventually penetrating into Burma. Much of Indonesia would also fall under Arab control in 713. Relations with Constantinople began to cool during the reign of Al-Walid I, which ended with his death in 715.
715-717 – Reign of Suleiman. Suleiman was the brother of the previous Caliph and governor of Hejaz. He did not continue expanding the empire, sensing that it was reaching its limits. Rather than following hereditary succession, Suleiman would appoint his own successor before he died in 717.
717-720 – Reign of Umar II. Like his predecessor, Umar II would have a peaceful reign over the empire, but it did not mean he abandoned all ideas of expansion. By the end of his reign, the Arab Empire reached its greatest extent, stretching from the southern coast of Arabia, to the mountains of Iran in the North, and the Himalayas, parts of Burma and Indonesia in the east.
720-724 – Reign of Yazid II. Cousin of the previous Caliph, Yazid II inherited an empire that began to decline. Revolts broke out in India and Indonesia. Unable to put down revolts in Indonesia led to its permanent loss to the empire. In India, the reprisals from the Umayyids were heavy handed.
724-743 – Reign of Hisham. Hisham would succeed in putting down the first rebellion in India in 726, but the subcontinent would always be on the verge of rebellion. As a result, many Arab soldiers were stationed in India. Hisham did his best to stabilize the empire, but found it difficult to manage. Bureaucracy grew to unheard of proportions during Hisham's reign, which stifled many of his attempts at reform and ultimately sowed the seeds for the rise of the Abbasids.
743-744 – Reign of Al-Walid II. Decadence would rule Al-Walid II's short reign as Caliph. He accomplished little during his reign and was assassinated in 744.
744 – Year of Four Caliphs. Yazid III would have the shortest reign of any Caliph (only six months). He quickly lost the support of the army for his refusal to meet his predecessor's pay promises and was assassinated. Ibrahim succeeded Yazid III that year, but his succession was not supported and he was forced to abdicate and flee. Marwin II would come to the throne next.
744-750 – Reign of Marwin II and the Fall of the Arab Empire. India immediately revolted in 744, forcing the Umayyads to move to suppress the revolt. However, problems soon erupted throughout the empire and it began to fall apart at the seams. The Abbasids gained many followers in Iran and India. Relations with Byzantium, poor for decades, culminated in an invasion in 748. Byzantine forces invaded Arabia and Iraq, eventually sacking the Umayyad capital of Kufa in 750. Marwin II and many of his relatives were killed in the battle for Kufa and this event tore the Arab Empire to shreds. India quickly broke away and the Abbasids consolidated their power in Iran. The remaining Umayyads retreated into Arabia as the Roman Empire annexed Mesopotamia and much of the Trans-Caucasus.
The Arab Empire was split into three successor states: the Umayyad Caliphate of Arabia, the Abbasid Caliphate of Iran and the Caliphate of India.