632 CE
A year defined by the death of the Prophet Muhammad, which triggered a crisis of succession in the nascent Muslim community and led to the appointment of Abu Bakr as the first caliph.
Geopolitics & Diplomacy
- The Prophet Muhammad died on June 8 in Medina, having unified much of the Arabian Peninsula under Islam and established a new political and religious order.
- Abu Bakr, one of Muhammad's earliest and most trusted companions, was chosen as the first caliph, or successor, at a hastily convened meeting of Muslim leaders in Medina.
- The selection of Abu Bakr was contested by some who believed Ali ibn Abi Talib, Muhammad's cousin and son-in-law, had a stronger claim, a disagreement that would eventually lead to the Sunni-Shia split.
Conflict & Security
- Several Arabian tribes that had submitted to Muhammad's authority renounced their allegiance after his death, launching the Ridda Wars, or Wars of Apostasy, which Abu Bakr moved swiftly to suppress.
- Abu Bakr dispatched military expeditions across the Arabian Peninsula to reassert Muslim authority over tribes that had rejected caliphal rule or followed rival prophets.
Climate & Environment
- Atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration was approximately 277 parts per million, as later confirmed by ice core analysis.
Culture & Society
- The estimated world population was approximately 210 million.