Umayyad Caliphate vs Abbasid Caliphate
At their height the two were about the same size: the Umayyad Caliphate about 11 million km² in 720 CE, the Abbasid Caliphate about 11 million km² in 750 CE. The Abbasid Caliphate lasted about 508 years (750 CE to 1258), the Umayyad Caliphate about 89 (661 CE to 750 CE). The Abbasid Caliphate took over from the Umayyad Caliphate in 750 CE.
| Umayyad Caliphate | Abbasid Caliphate | |
|---|---|---|
| Began | 661 CE | 750 CE |
| Ended | 750 CE | 1258 |
| Lasted | about 89 years | about 508 years |
| Largest extent | about 11 million km² (720 CE) | about 11 million km² (750 CE) |
| Share of the world’s land | 7.5% | 7.5% |
| Capital | Damascus | Baghdad |
Umayyad Caliphate
The first hereditary caliphate, ruled from Damascus. Its armies reached Spain in 711 and the Indus, making it one of the largest empires of its time, until the Abbasid revolution of 750.
Began 661 CE: Mu’awiya I becomes caliph. Ended 750 CE: the Abbasid revolution overthrows it.
On the history map: World map in 700 CE
Umayyad Caliphate on Wikipedia
Abbasid Caliphate
It overthrew the Umayyads in 750 and founded Baghdad, a centre of science and learning. Its real power faded from the 10th century, and the Mongols sacked Baghdad in 1258.
Began 750 CE: the Abbasids overthrow the Umayyads. Ended 1258: the Mongols sack Baghdad.
On the history map: World map in 800 CE, World map in 1000 CE, World map in 1200 CE
Abbasid Caliphate on Wikipedia
More comparisons
- Roman Empire vs Mongol Empire — about 5.0 million km² vs about 24 million km²
- Roman Empire vs Han dynasty — about 5.0 million km² vs about 6.0 million km²
- Roman Empire vs Byzantine Empire — about 5.0 million km² vs about 2.7 million km²
- Roman Empire vs Ottoman Empire — about 5.0 million km² vs about 5.2 million km²
- Roman Empire vs Achaemenid Empire — about 5.0 million km² vs about 5.5 million km²
- Roman Empire vs British Empire — about 5.0 million km² vs about 36 million km²
- Mongol Empire vs British Empire — about 24 million km² vs about 36 million km²
- Mongol Empire vs Russian Empire — about 24 million km² vs about 23 million km²
- Ottoman Empire vs Byzantine Empire — about 5.2 million km² vs about 2.7 million km²
- Ottoman Empire vs Mughal Empire — about 5.2 million km² vs about 4.0 million km²
- Ottoman Empire vs Russian Empire — about 5.2 million km² vs about 23 million km²
- Achaemenid Empire vs Macedonian Empire — about 5.5 million km² vs about 5.2 million km²
- Han dynasty vs Tang dynasty — about 6.0 million km² vs about 5.4 million km²
- Tang dynasty vs Abbasid Caliphate — about 5.4 million km² vs about 11 million km²
- British Empire vs Spanish Empire — about 36 million km² vs about 14 million km²
- Spanish Empire vs Inca Empire — about 14 million km² vs about 2.0 million km²
Compare empires · The interactive history atlas
Largest extents are the widely cited estimates by Rein Taagepera and others, as listed in Wikipedia’s List of largest empires. Dates are the conventional ones; several are debated. Shares are of the world’s land area, about 148.9 million km².