Umayyad Court Culture: Patronage of Poetry, Scholarship, and the Arts (661–750)

1. Umayyad postal-intelligence service (barid) develops

   Jan 1, 661Labels: Barid, Mu'awiya I

   • Barid

2. Mu'awiya I establishes Umayyad rule from Damascus

   Jul 1, 661Labels: Mu'awiya I, Damascus

   • Britannica
   • Mu awiya I

3. Dome of the Rock completed under ʿAbd al-Malik

   Jan 1, 692Labels: Dome of, Abd al-Malik

   • Dome Rock
   • Britannica

4. Coinage reform begins under ʿAbd al-Malik

   Jan 1, 696Labels: Coinage reform, Abd al-Malik

   • Cambridge
   • Abd al Malik

5. Arabic adopted as administrative language across key diwans

   Jan 1, 697Labels: Arabic administration, Diwans

   • Umayyads
   • Cambridge

6. Al-Walid I launches Great Mosque of Damascus project

   Jan 1, 705Labels: Great Mosque, Al-Walid I

   • CultureGov
   • Al Walid I

7. Al-Akhtal flourishes as prominent Umayyad court poet

   Jan 1, 710Labels: Al-Akhtal, Umayyad court

   • Britannica

8. Umayyad Mosque of Damascus completed

   Jan 1, 715Labels: Umayyad Mosque, Damascus

   • Umayyad Mosque
   • CultureGov

9. Hisham’s Palace complex built near Jericho

   Jan 1, 724Labels: Hisham's Palace, Khirbet al-Mafjar

   • UNESCO
   • Britannica

10. Qusayr 'Amra built as a royal retreat

    Jan 1, 733Labels: Qusayr 'Amra, Walid II

    • Qusayr Amra

11. Yunus al-Katib gains patronage at Walid II’s court

    Feb 6, 743Labels: Yunus al-Katib, Al-Walid II

    • Yunus
    • Umayyads

12. Mshatta palace commissioned under al-Walid II

    Mar 1, 743Labels: Mshatta Palace, Al-Walid II

    • Mshatta

13. Battle of the Zab ends Umayyad caliphal rule

    Jan 25, 750Labels: Battle of, Abbasids

    • Zab
    • Umayyads