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Year 5

The early caliphates and the spread of Islam

I can describe how the caliphate expanded and spread Islam across North Africa and Southern Europe.

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New
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Year 5

The early caliphates and the spread of Islam

I can describe how the caliphate expanded and spread Islam across North Africa and Southern Europe.

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Share activities with pupils
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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. By the time of Muhammad’s death in 632 CE, Muslim forces had invaded the southern parts of the Persian Empire.
  2. They also successfully invaded Byzantine territories in Syria, Palestine and Egypt.
  3. When Muhammad died, his successor was Abu Bakr; his Rashidun Caliphate expanded into central Asia and North Africa.
  4. Captured cities were often treated well; in Damascus the Christian people were not hurt and allowed to worship freely.
  5. The caliph Umar captured Jerusalem in 638 CE; it is the third holiest city to many Muslims.

Keywords

  • Syria - Syria is a country located in the Middle East, with borders on the Mediterranean Sea and Turkey

  • Caliph - a caliph was a Muslim leader and political ruler who came after Muhammad (PBUH)

  • Rashidun - the Rashiduns were the first four caliphs who ruled the Islamic empire after the death of Muhammad (PBUH)

  • Jerusalem - Jerusalem is an ancient holy city in the Middle East

Common misconception

Muslims were intolerant of other religions.

People living in Muslim-controlled territories were allowed to follow their own religion.


To help you plan your year 5 history lesson on: The early caliphates and the spread of Islam, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Using an atlas or globe to place the regions, countries and cities in relation to the students' own location will support geographical understanding.
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Adult supervision recommended

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This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Muhammad (PBUH) was a leader and prophet of the religion.
Correct Answer: Islamic, Islam, islamic, islam
Q2.
Why is 622 CE an important year according to Muslims?
Correct answer: It is the start of Islamic history.
Islam became the official religion in Mecca and Medina.
The Muslim army went to war with Byzantine and Persian Empires.
Correct answer: It was the year of Muhammad's (PBUH) migration to Medina.
Q3.
Why was the Constitution of Medina important to Muslims?
It was a law that said that everyone had to follow Islam.
Correct answer: It united the southern Arabian tribes under the religion of Islam.
It banned all other religions.
Q4.
The holiest city in Islam is ...
Correct Answer: Mecca, mecca
Q5.
Order the events about the early success of Islam chronologically.
1 - Muhammad (PBUH) migrated to Medina.
2 - Muhammad (PBUH) created the Constitution of Medina.
3 - Muhammad (PBUH) and his followers marched on Mecca and conquered it peacefully.
4 - Muhammad (PBUH) declared the Ka'ba in Mecca the most holy site in Islam.
5 - Muhammad (PBUH) sent Muslim armies to conquer the Byzantines and Persians.
Q6.
How did war with the Byzantine and Persian empires help spread Islam?
Correct answer: Muslim armies conquered territories there, where they spread the word of Islam.
Muslim armies killed anyone who was not a Muslim.
People in the Byzantine and Persian empires had already become Muslim.

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
An Islamic religious and political leader and Muhammad’s (PBUH) next-in-line was known as a ...
Correct Answer: caliph, Caliph
Q2.
What happened during the Ridda Wars?
The Rashidun army captured Damascus.
The Rashidun army captured Jerusalem.
Correct answer: Arabian tribes were defeated by the Rashidun army.
Q3.
How did the Rashidun Caliphate treat the people of Damascus?
The people living in the city were paid well.
Correct answer: The people living in the city were not hurt.
Correct answer: The Christians were allowed to worship freely.
Q4.
Match the place to the corresponding event about the early caliphates and the spread of Islam.
Correct Answer:Tabūk,Muhammad (PBUH) ensured the safety of many Arabian tribes
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Muhammad (PBUH) ensured the safety of many Arabian tribes

Correct Answer:Mecca,Muhammad's (PBUH) Farewell Sermon
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Muhammad's (PBUH) Farewell Sermon

Correct Answer:Damascus,Christian people were allowed to worship freely
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Christian people were allowed to worship freely

Correct Answer:Jerusalem,captured by caliph Umar
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captured by caliph Umar

Q5.
Order the events about the early caliphates and the spread of Islam chronologically.
1 - Muhammad (PBUH) united the Arabian tribes through Islam.
2 - The first caliph of the Rashidun Caliphate was chosen after Muhammad (PBUH) died
3 - Arabian tribes were defeated during the Ridda Wars.
4 - Muslim armies conquered territories in North Africa, Mesopotamia and Persia.
5 - Damascus was captured by the Muslim army.
6 - Jerusalem fell to the Rashidun Caliphate.
Q6.
What was one of the greatest successes of the Rashidun Caliphate?
Correct answer: The Rashidun Caliphate greatly expanded Islam beyond Arabia.
The Rashidun Caliphate did not allow people to follow other religions.
The Rashidun Caliphate was led by Muhammad (PBUH) .

Additional material

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