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After Muhammads death Abu bkar became the first Caliph. He soon spread Islam though out the the Arabian penninsula.

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Mohammed's Successors

After the death of Mohammed, the new religion of Islam was at a crossroads. Having unified the tribes of Arabia and solidified Mecca as the capital of their faith, the followers of Islam were faced with their first leadership crisis. Who would take up the mantle of Mohammed and lead?

The successor to Mohammed, given the title of caliph, was destined to be one of two men. The first man, named Ali, was believed by some to be Mohammed's personal choice. He was a cousin and a son-in-law to the prophet. Yet others believed Abu Bakr had a stronger claim. Abu Bakr, a longtime friend, confidant and father-in-law to Mohammed, had been the first male convert to Islam. Ultimately, it was Abu Bakr who got the nod from the majority of the elders to become the first caliph of Islam.

He would serve in this position for two years until his death in 634 CE. But during those two years, Abu Bakr proved himself an able leader, subduing the entire Arabian Peninsula and converting the population to Islam. What is more, those around Abu Bakr were well-schooled in the arts of war and conflict and understood the importance of strengthening their borders against encroachment from foreign armies and foreign faiths. They also understood the importance of preventing internal dissent. Soon, the armies of Islam would set their sights on expansion beyond Arabia, and two unsuspecting empires would be their choice targets.

Targeting the Infidels

The first was the Sassanid Empire, a wealthy and prosperous kingdom built upon trade and commerce that controlled Persia (modern-day Iran) and Iraq. The Sassanids were inheritors of the great tradition - the tradition of the , who were master craftsmen, warriors, artists and followers of the Zoroastrian religion.

The second empire was Byzantium, an empire based in Constantinople. They were equally wealthy, prosperous and as culturally rich as the Sassanids, but they were Christians. Byzantium controlled much of the former lands of Romans, including what is now modern-day Palestine, Israel and Syria, as well as extending their power into Egypt.

Believing that both empires posed a threat to Islam, Abu Bakr declared a religious jihad against them. He felt that the expansion of Islam would be key to its survival. These wars were welcomed by true believers as a sign of God's will, a desire to root out the paganism of the Persians and the corrupted Christianity of the Byzantines. Even after Abu Bakr's death, the wars would continue.

The Second Caliphate 634-644 CE

The second caliphate (from 634 - 644 CE) was led by Umar, another father-in-law to Mohammed, and was marked by several successful military campaigns against the Byzantine Empire, including the capture of Damascus in the year 635 and the capture of Jerusalem in the year of 637 CE. Once he had conquered these lands, he instituted a modern form of Islamic government, allowing for both Jews and Christians (as well as others) to practice their faith if they paid the jizya (religious tax).

To the east, Umar's forces moved against the Sassanid and captured the capital city of Ctesiphon in 637 CE. Historical records of this time tell us that while the inhabitants of the city were not harmed, their palaces and libraries were burned. As a result, ancient knowledge and countless artifacts were lost forever. Sadly, this marked a disturbing trend in warfare for centuries to come, where priceless works of human culture were burned in the name of religion from Persia to as far east as India.

Muslim armies continued to have success in their war with the Sassanid and Byzantines, eventually capturing Babylon in 641 and the city of Alexandria, Egypt in 642 CE. Much of the Muslim armies' success was due to their internal unity. They were buoyed by their faith, and also, the internal divisions found in both the Sassanid and the Byzantine empires weakened both from the inside. By the time of Umar's death, Islam controlled a swath of territory second only to the Tang Dynasty of China.

The Third Caliphate 644-656 CE

Uthman, a member of the influential Umayyad family, was chosen as Umar's successor and served as the third caliph from 644 - 656 CE. In 645, he defeated the Byzantine attempt to recover Alexandria, and in 647, he began to expand the Muslim Empire west of Egypt. He conquered Cyprus in 649, and his forces reached the easternmost boundary of Persia in 653 CE. His accomplishments on the battlefield were mirrored by his promotion of Islam and Arabic culture and, most importantly of all, a unified and definitive version of the Quran, which significantly reduced doctrinal differences among the faithful.

But not all Muslims were happy with this leadership. Many felt Uthman had become too powerful, manipulating religion for his benefit. When Uthman was ultimately assassinated, a civil war erupted, and Ali, Mohammed's cousin and son-in-law, was declared the fourth caliph. Ali would also face immediate opposition, but he managed to maintain control from 656 - 661 CE, when he was assassinated in violence that threatened to tear the Islamic world apart.

From this chaos, the clan of the Umayyad ultimately emerged victorious. They would establish a new caliphate that would last until 750 CE, when another challenger would prove too strong even for them to resist.

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the spread of islam and the progress of the caliphates - video & lesson transcript | study.com

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The Spread of Islam and the Progress of the Caliphates - Video & Lesson Transcript | Study.com

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After the death of Mohammed, the new religion of Islam was at a crossroads. Having unified the tribes of Arabia and solidified Mecca as the capital of their faith, the followers of Islam were faced with their first leadership crisis. Who would take up the mantle of Mohammed and lead?

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It is a morning in Ethopia and thierte are eleven beautiful churvhes carved out of rock 900 years ago.These chruches are Ethopian Orthodox and these churches get 80,000 to 100,000 visitors a year.

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Lalibela, Ethiopia (CNN) - It's 4 o'clock on a Sunday morning when a trail of figures dressed in white emerges from the deep darkness. Quietly, the summoned crowd makes its way down a cluster of ancient structures as the slow beat from traditional skin drums beckons.

It's a common scene here in Lalibela, a small town in northern Ethiopia that's home to 11 spectacular churches carved both inside and out from a single rock some 900 years ago. The chiseled creations have turned this mountain town into a place of pride and pilgrimage for worshipers of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, attracting 80,000 to 100,000 visitors every year.

"It is one of the very important places for the Ethiopian Orthodox Church people," says local guide Fikru Woldegiorgis, who's lived here most of his life. "There is a belief that Lalibela pilgrims share the same blessing as pilgrims to Jerusalem," he explains. "They have to come at least once in a lifetime."

And they come from all over.

Even though Lalibela sits in a remote region of Ethiopia, the faithful will walk for days, even weeks, to get here, many of them traversing the rugged mountains barefoot. Amongst them, blind men and women and people with disabilities also join the pilgrimage, making their way along Lalibela's winding, hilly roads to reach the sacred site.

"What makes the Lalibela churches important is that they are still in use," says Woldegiorgis. "It's not a museum; it's a living heritage. Every day, every morning, there is a service in all the churches."

Errol Barnett ventures through Ethiopian cliffs where churches were carved out of stone centuries ago.

CNN's Errol Barnett finds out what measures are being taken to protect Ethiopia's ancient monolithic churches.

CNN's Errol Barnett attends a wedding ceremony sacred to Ethiopian Orthodox Christians.

Brimming with spirituality

Ethiopia is home to one of the oldest Christian churches in the world, dating back to the early fourth century. The Ethiopian Orthodox Church used to be a part of Egypt's Coptic Church, but established its own patriarch in 1959. Today, nearly two thirds of the East African country's population is Christian, with most belonging to the Orthodox Church.

Nowhere does the spirituality of the church's followers echo louder than in Lalibela. The town is brimming with devotion; throughout the churches' compound, you'll find worshipers leaning against the structures, kissing the age-old rock walls, praying quietly or reading religious texts.

"They come early to get the blessing -- because it's such a big deal, every inch of the place is packed," says Aba Gebreyesus, the priest who presides over all the churches in Lalibela. "People are so happy with the blessings they get here, they come here without any prompting and spend their nights and days at the church."

The medieval structures were commissioned by King Lalibela, of the Zagwe Dynasty, which ruled much of the country back in the 12th century.

There are several stories surrounding the creation of the churches, one of which says that humans worked during the day and angels would speed up the building overnight. Some historians say construction was completed at a remarkable pace, taking about 23 years.

"It's not a museum; it's a living heritage. Every day, every morning, there is a service in all the churches."

Fikru Woldegiorgis, Lalibela guide

Carved out of volcanic tuff rock, the famous churches have been built in a variety of styles. Some of them were chiseled into the face of the rock, where others stand as isolated blocks, like the iconic church of Saint George, constructed in the shape of the cross. A complex and extensive system of drainage ditches, tunnels and subterranean passageways connects the underground structures.

Alebachev Retta, an 86-year-old church scholar who has studied in some of Ethiopia's holiest cities, explains what makes these churches so distinctive. "They are different because they were built from the top down," he says. "Everywhere in the world, structures are built from the ground up," he adds. "There is nothing comparable in the world."

Thanks to their impressive architecture and rich influence on Ethiopian Christianity, the churches have been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1978. Five years ago, UNESCO decided to erect protective coverings to shield four of the churches from the elements. The shelters may be unsightly, but experts say they are critical to preserving the integrity of the churches.

In recent years, a conscious effort to develop Lalibela's infrastructure has also brought further attention to this remote place, leading to the arrival of even more pilgrims and tourists.

"They are different because they were built from the top down."

Alebachev Retta, church scholar

Retta says he's seen positive changes in Lalibela over the years. He says he's especially content with how it's become a worldwide tourist destination.

"One, because the country's culture should be shown, and secondly, many poor people in the area are being helped," he says. "Everyone is making a living through the tourism business. It's great; without the tourists, there is no salary for anyone. If the tourists stopped, everything will stop."

But that doesn't seem likely, as visitors keep on coming to Lalibela's churches. And although the sacred sites provide a solid foundation for the faithful, it's the followers themselves that ultimately breathe life into these ancient rock walls.

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lalibela rock churches: the jerusalem of ethiopia - cnn

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Lalibela rock churches: The Jerusalem of Ethiopia | CNN Travel

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Lalibela, Ethiopia (CNN) - It's 4 o'clock on a Sunday morning when a trail of figures dressed in white emerges from the deep darkness. Quietly, the summoned crowd makes its way down a cluster of ancient structures as the slow beat from traditional skin drums beckons.

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Holy sites for Christianity in Jerusalem

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Holy sites for Christianity in Jerusalem

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The Church of the Holy Sepulchre is the site of where Jesus is said to be crucified and bared

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The Dome Of the Rock is sacred to Muslims because the Prophet Muhammad ascended to heaven from that area during the Night Journey.

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The Western wall is the last remnant of the Temple also jews from around the world come here to pray.

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Christians do not eat meat when they fast but

besides that there is no other food restrictions

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Islams can not eat slaughtered meat

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Jews are not allowed to eat pork or drink achol

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The Quran is the sacred beliefs for Islams. It is the word of God according to Muhammad.

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The Torah is the teaching of scripture for Judaism. the Torah is sepearated into 5 books

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This is the Bible it is the book of Christianity there are sixty-six books in the bible.

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This symbol is affiliated with the Muslim world and was adopted by the Ottoman Empire.

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Symbol for Judaism is the Star of David represents King Davids shield.

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The symbol for Christianity is a cross because Jesus died on the cross for all of our sins.