The Umayyads, ruling from 661 to 750 AD, were the first Islamic dynasty, marking a transformative era in the Muslim world. After the Prophet Muhammad’s death, caliphs were originally chosen by consensus, but this shifted during the tumultuous rule of Caliph Uthman and his successor Ali, the Prophet’s son-in-law. Following a civil war, Muawiya, the first Umayyad caliph, moved the capital to Damascus, shifting power from the Hijaz to the north.

Under the Umayyads, Islam expanded rapidly into North Africa, Spain, and Central Asia. This growth brought remarkable achievements in administration, uniting an empire stretching from India to Morocco. However, it also sowed seeds of division, such as the rise of the Shiite movement after the deaths of Ali in 661 and his son Hussein in 680. These internal conflicts and tribal rivalries eventually led to the dynasty’s fall, but their 90 years of rule left a lasting legacy.

Culturally, the Umayyads fused Persian, Eastern Mediterranean, and Arab influences to shape early Islamic art and architecture. This is evident in the iconic Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem and the Great Mosque in Damascus, which laid the foundation for later Islamic artistry. Beyond grand religious monuments, their “Desert Castles” showcased a more personal and secular side, blending decorative mosaics, frescoes, and carvings. Examples include the luxurious baths of Qusayr Amra, the enigmatic Qasr Kharana, and the unfinished yet striking palace of Mshatta. Scholars suggest these castles served various purposes, from tribal diplomacy and trade stops to defensive sites or retreats for leisure.

The Umayyads eventually faced growing challenges, including the rise of the Abbasid dynasty east of Baghdad. Discontent among Shiites and non-Arab converts to Islam, frustrated by taxes and discrimination, further weakened their rule. The last Umayyad caliph, Marwan II, was killed in Egypt, and power passed to the Abbasids. While a branch of the Umayyads endured in Spain until the 11th century, Syria and Jordan never regained their centrality in Islamic governance. Nevertheless, the surviving monuments of the Umayyads remain as enduring symbols of their contributions to the early Islamic world.