seventhcentury

The seventh century refers to the period from 601 to 700 CE. It was a time of rapid change across Afro-Eurasia, marked by the rise of Islam, the consolidation of the Tang dynasty in China, and ongoing transformation of European political and religious life after late antiquity.

In the Islamic world, 610 marks the beginning of Muhammad’s prophethood, with the Hijra to Medina in 622. After Muhammad’s death in 632, the Rashidun Caliphate (632–661) expanded swiftly, conquering lands in the Levant, Egypt, North Africa, and parts of the Persian realm. By 651 the Sasanian Empire had fallen, and the Umayyad Caliphate was established in 661, expanding into North Africa and the Iberian Peninsula by the century’s end. The century also witnessed the first Arab siege of Constantinople (674–678) and internal political struggles, including the First Fitna (656–661).

In East Asia, the Tang dynasty was founded in 618 CE, bringing political unity and cultural flourishing to China. The Korean kingdom of Silla, aided by Tang forces, achieved the unification of the Korean peninsula in 668. The era saw advances in administration, culture, and trade within the Tang realm.

In Europe, Christian institutions continued to reorganize post-Roman governance. The Synod of Whitby in 664 helped align British church practices with Roman traditions, reinforcing ecclesiastical and political links across parts of western Europe. Across the continent, various successor polities emerged as medieval structures began to take shape.

Other regions maintained trade networks and local developments, laying foundations for later medieval societies in Africa, South Asia, and the Americas.