570AD: Birth of Mohammed, of a noble Koreish family, at Mecca. The Koreish tribe had become prominent since about 500AD, amongst the rival peoples of the Arab Mustareb Kingdoms. Traditions had it that the Koreish had their origin with Ishmael, of the line of Abraham. They became the custodians of the sacred Kaaba (a black stone, possibly meteorite, the origins of which are seldom noted, let alone described), which gave them pre-eminence amongst other tribes. By about 600+AD, the Koreish and their Mustareb allies were the most powerful confederacy in Arabia. (Item from Historians' History of the World. London, 1907., Vol. 8, pp. 32ff.) 

605-610AD: The years of deep meditation for Mohammed, the Prophet of Allah. Being developed are the major principles of Islam. (Item from Historians' History of the World. London, 1907., Vol. 8, pp. 32ff.) 

610AD: For Mohammed, the Prophet, the year of his call. He begins to make converts. But opposition to his views increased amongst the Meccans, till in 622 he fled with followers to Medina. The Hegira. This flight of 622 begins the Mohammedan era. (Item from Historians' History of the World. London, 1907., Vol. 8, pp. 32ff.) 

622-623AD: Mecca-Medina: Mohammed with followers flees opposition in Mecca and go to Medina. The first mosque is built. Mohammed becomes a warrior. (Item from Historians' History of the World. London, 1907., Vol. 8, pp. 32ff.) 

624AD: Arabia; First battle for the faith with the Meccans at Bedr. Victory of Mohammed. 

625AD: Arabia, Battle of Ohod, victory of the Meccans. 

627AD: Arabia, War of the Fosse. The Koreish make terms with Mohammed. 

628AD: Mohammedan war against the Jews of Khaibar. 

629AD: Arabia, Mohammedan war against the Greek subjects in Arabia. 

629AD: Emperor Heraclius in Constantinople receives embassies from as far away as France and India, and surprisingly, also a letter (as an apocryphal legend) from an Arabian chieftain and a Prophet of God, Mohammed, suggesting that he join a new faith. The revolution of Islam is poised to change the world. Mohammed is a poor-relation member of a great clan of Mecca, the Qoraishites. Runciman in his first volume on the Crusades says that prior to Mohammed's arrival, there had existed a non-Jewish tradition of monotheism in the Middle East, the hanif tradition. 

630AD: Arabia: Mohammed moves against Mecca and conquers it. War with the Hawazin. Rapid spread of Islam. The Ka'aba in Mecca, a repository of idols, is cleansed of idols and becomes a building deeply revered by Moslems. 

632AD: Death of Mohammed the Prophet of God. The Prophet's successor is his father-in-law, Abu Bakr (Abu Bekr) who is chosen Caliph, or representative, and pursues an expansionist policy. Persians are expelled from Bahrein. An army under Khalid sets out against the Byzantine Empire. An Arab army moves up the south coast of Palestine and takes Gaza. Abu Bakr reduces a revolt in Nejd and Yemen, and defends Medina. Omar later succeeds Abu Bakr who died 634AD. In 635 the Arabs take Damascus. In 636 is a decisive victory against Christians, partly due to discontent amongst Christian soldiers who adopt Islam. Emperor Heraclius fears it is a punishment from God for his incestuous marriage with his niece Martina. (Some items from Historians' History of the World. London, 1907., Vol. 8, pp. 32ff.) 

634AD: Moslem conquest of Yemen. 

635AD: Moslem capture of Damascus. by 636 are added conquests of Emesa, Heliopolis, Chalcis, Beroae, Edessa, Battle of Yermuk. Heraclius abandons Syria to the Moslems. 

636AD: Kingdom of Ghassan (300-636AD): Founded about 300AD by Thalaba, the first to take the name of king. His successors rule until 636, when Djabala VI surrenders to the Mohammedans. 

637AD: Arabia - Middle East, Battle of Cadesia, or Kadisiya, Moslem victory over the Persians. Omar captures Jerusalem, then Aleppo and Antioch. (Item from Historians' History of the World. London, 1907., Vol. 8, pp. 32ff.) 

637AD and later: Moslem missionary expansionism had meant that Moslems had intervened at Jerusalem from 637AD. Moslems, partly due to their existing maritime skills, were actually invited into Portugal to help with problems by 711. Later they occupied Toledo. They were on Crete by 826, taking the island from the Byzantines, another obviously maritime adventure. Moslems had intervened in Sind (India) by the early Eighth Century, but they did not dominate Northern India till the Eleventh Century. (As the Moghuls they established the Delphi Sultanate by 1206). 

638AD: Mesopotamia is conquered by Islam who also take Tarsus and Diar-Bekr. 

638AD: Edinburgh in Scotland is in the hands of the English. 

639AD: Invasion of Egypt by Moslem, Amru. 

640AD: The Arabs invade Egypt and burn the library of Alexandria (a possible myth of blame, see reports on problems caused by Christians). However, the Arabs preserved the use of engineering skills known in Egypt at the time, while Europe remained ignorant. (Source: James/Thorpe). 

To 640AD: Arab forces take Palestinian cities such as Dara, Caesarea, Antioch, the isthmus of Suez. Iraq was taken by 637AD. IN 639, Egypt was invaded by Moslem Arabs. in 641, Babylon (Old Cairo) was taken. Alexandria was recaptured in 645. By 700AD, Roman Africa was under Moslem control. 

641AD: Islam: Battle of Nehavend, great victory for Islam over Persians, and many Persian nobility come to terms with Islam. Yezdegerd the king flees to a remote corner and holds a vestige of power till about 651-652. Alexandria is captured. (Item from Historians' History of the World. London, 1907., pp. 32ff.) 

644AD: Islam: Death of Omar succeeded by Othman, a weak ruler who allows Islamic power to fall into the hands of the Koreish nobility. 

647AD: Islam: Invasion of Africa by Abdallah, Arabs expel the Romans. 

649AD: Islam: Invasion of Cyprus in 649, Conquest of Aradus in 650, Conquest of Armenia in 652, Conquest of Rhodes in 654, in 655 is defeat of emperor Constans by Mohammedans in naval battle off Mt Phoenix in Lycia. 

655AD: Defeat and death of the Mercian ruler, Penda, in England. 

656AD: Murder of Othman by a party in opposition to growing worldliness of Islam. Leader of the opposition, and son-in-law of Mohammed the Prophet, is Ali, who succeeds. Battle of the Camel. Moawiyah, governor of Syria, heads the opponents of Ali, and incites them to revenge. (Item from Historians' History of the World. London, 1907., Vol. 8, pp. 32ff.) 

657AD: Ali invades northern Syria. Battle of Siffin. The theocratic faction rebels against Ali. 

658AD: Islam: Decision of the Umpires, Ali and Moawiyah, the latter wins. Peace made with the Byzantine Empire. Egypt conquered for Moawiyah. 

659: Islam: Moslem conquest of Egypt. 

660AD: Islam: Truce between Ali and Moawiyah, the caliphate is divided into east and west. 

661AD: Islam: Kharejite conspiracy to murder Ali, Moawiyah and Amru. Only Ali falls. Alis' son Hassan succeeds, but abdicates in favour of Moawiyah, who then heads a united caliphate. Opposition to him slowly reduces. The capital is moved to Damascus. (Item from Historians' History of the World. London, 1907., Vol. 8, pp. 32ff.) 

662-663AD: Islam: Great invasion of Asia Minor. Death of Amru. ( 

668AD: Islam: Islam advances to Chalcedon and holds Amorium for a time. 

669AD: Islam: Great invasion of Sicily. In 670, foundation of Kairwan. 

670AD: Moslem conquest of Kabul (Afghanistan). 

673-677AD: Islam: Mohammedans besiege Constantinople but are driven off by Greek fire. 

676AD: Islam: Yazid, son of Moawiyah, is appointed heir-apparent. Hereditary nomination becomes a precedent in Islam. 

677AD: Siege of Constantinople. 

678AD: Islam: 30 years' peace is made with Constantinople. 

680AD: Islam: Death of Moawiyah, Yazid I succeeds, the Ali faction refuses recognition. Hosein, son of Ali and his company are slain. In 681, Abdallah ben Zobair proclaims himself Caliph.