Western Civilization I / Unit 9 WC1 0827 short lesson, about 20 seconds
The Umayyads: Damascus, Spain, Tours, Talas
Captions available
The idea
The Umayyads ruled from Damascus about a century as hereditary caliphs. North Africa fell by seven hundred, Spain in seven eleven; Charles Martel stopped them at Tours, also called Poitiers, in seven thirty-two; Constantinople held in seven eighteen.
In practice
A Tang army beaten at Talas in seven fifty-one, a witness name.
Where people slip
The anchor places Talas outside Samarkand. It lies far northeast.
Your place on the trail
Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.
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