Omayyad Caliphate

Explore the era of the Omayyad Caliphate with Damascus as its capital. Learn how Iran became part of this vast empire stretching from Spain to Kabul, why Shia Islam spread among Persians due to political tensions, and how Omayyad rule sparked a cultural renaissance. Discover key Iranian regions (Gorgan, Tabaristan) and early Islamic architecture influenced by Persian traditions.

661–750/751 CE

Damascus became the capital of the Omayyad Caliphate (661–750/751 CE).

Among the most notable Iranian cities during the Omayyad period were:

Jurjan (also known as Gorgan);
the northern Iranian region of Tabaristan.

Iran was almost entirely incorporated into the Omayyad Caliphate. At its zenith (the second quarter of the 8th century CE), the caliphate’s territory stretched from southern Spain and northern Morocco in the west to Kabul in the east.

During this period, largely due to political circumstances, most of the population in the Persian provinces began to follow the Shia branch of Islam. This shift occurred amid opposition to the unpopular Omayyad rule. The Omayyads’ nationalistic policies toward the Persians — who were regarded as a “lower” class — fueled discontent. Shia Islam emerged as a form of protest movement against Omayyad authority.

The growing dissatisfaction among Persian Shias was later exploited by the Abbasids to seize power.

Omayyad rulers — such as Muawiya I, Yazid I, Marwan, Abdul‑Malik, and others — began to style themselves as caliphs. This gave rise to the term caliphate, which was used for this and subsequent ruling regimes.

This period under Omayyad rule can be considered a true flourishing of art and culture at the dawn of Islam.

Classic examples of early Muslim architecture — which were significantly influenced by Persian architectural traditions — were built under the Omayyads. Notable examples include the 8th‑century mosques in Aleppo and Raqqa.