Umayyad Caliphate in Damascus—661

Umayyad Caliphate in Damascus—661

Available on Prime Video, The Great Courses Signature Collection
S1 E4: The establishment of the Umayyad caliphate's capital in Damascus was the most important political turning point in early Muslim history. Trace the Umayyads' achievements, and investigate their reasons for locating the empire's capital away from the Arabian peninsula, reflecting the shift from a religiously inspired Islamic empire to a politically oriented imperial power.