The word caliph means "Allah's servant" and was the title given to each leader of the Muslim Empire folloing Muhammad.

The first four caliphs to rule after Muhammad's death were elected by the Muslim community and were known as the "rightly chosen" caliphs

During the Umayyad caliphate, the rulers moved the capital to Damascus and began to indulge in a luxurious lifestyle.

The group of Muslims that pursued a life of poverty and spirituality were called the Sufi

The Abbasid caliphate, named after Muhammad's daughter, was established in North Africa

Al-Andalus was the name of the Muslim state formed in southern Spain by the Umayyads

The Shi'a, the larger of the two main divisions of Islam, embrace Muhammad's example as the best guide for how to lead a proper Muslim life