Professional Documents
Culture Documents
7th century
Millennium: 1st millennium
Centuries: 6th century
7th century
8th century
Timelines: 6th century
7th century
8th century
State leaders: 6th century
7th century
8th century
Decades: 600s
610s
620s
630s
640s
650s
660s
670s
680s
690s
Categories: Births – Deaths
Establishments – Disestablishments
The 7th century is the period from 601 (DCI) through 700 (DCC) in accordance with the Julian
y p ( ) g ( )
calendar in the Common Era. The spread of Islam and the Muslim conquests began with the
unification of Arabia by Prophet Muhammad starting in 622. After Muhammad's death in 632, Islam
expanded beyond the Arabian Peninsula under the Rashidun Caliphate (632–661) and the Umayyad
Caliphate (661–750). The Muslim conquest of Persia in the 7th century led to the downfall of the
Sasanian Empire. Also conquered during the 7th century were Syria, Palestine, Armenia, Egypt, and
North Africa.
The Byzantine Empire continued suffering setbacks during the rapid expansion of the Muslim Empire.
In the Iberian Peninsula, the 7th century was the Siglo de Concilios, that is, century of councils,
referring to the Councils of Toledo.
In China, the Sui dynasty was replaced by the Tang dynasty, which set up its military bases from
Korea to Central Asia, and was next to the Umayyads' later. China began to reach its height. Silla allied
itself with the Tang dynasty, subjugating Baekje and defeating Goguryeo to unite the Korean Peninsula
under one ruler.
Harsha united Northern India, which had reverted to small republics and states after the fall of the
Gupta Empire in the 6th century.
Events
Pages of a late 7th century
Quran
651: Emperor Yazdegerd III is murdered in Merv, ending the rule of Sassanid dynasty in
Persia (Iran).
656–661: The First Fitna.
657: The Chinese Tang dynasty under Emperor Gaozong of Tang defeats Western Turkic
Kaganate.
658: Two Chinese monks, Zhi Yu and Zhi You, reconstruct the 3rd century south-pointing
chariot mechanical compass-vehicle for Emperor Tenji of Japan.
661: Caliph Ali ibn Abi Talib is assassinated. His successor Hasan ibn Ali abdicated the
Caliphate to Muawiyah I, marking the beginning of the Umayyad Caliphate.2
663: The Tang dynasty of China and Korean Silla Kingdom gain victory against the Korean
Baekje Kingdom and their Yamato Japanese allies in the naval Battle of Baekgang.
664: Conquest of Kabul by Muslims.
664: A Tang dynasty Chinese source written by I-tsing, mentioned about Holing (Kalingga)
kingdom, located somewhere in the northern coast of Central Java.4
668: The end of the Goguryeo–Tang War, as Goguryeo fell to a joint attack by Tang China
and Unified Silla of Korea, the latter of which held the former Goguryeo domains.
670: In 670 an Arab Muslim army under Uqba ibn Nafi entered the region of Ifriqiya. In the
late 670s conquest of North Africa was completed.
671: I-tsing visited Srivijaya and Malayu in Sumatra and Kedah in Malay peninsula on his
way to Nalanda, India.5
674: The first Arab siege of Constantinople begins.
677: Most of the Arab fleet is destroyed by Greek fire; the Persian crown prince flees to the
T'ang court.
680: Decisive victory of the Bulgars over the Byzantines in the Battle of Ongal.
680: Battle of Karbala took place near Kufa, which resulted in the death of Husayn ibn Ali
and the division of Muslim community.
681: Bulgaria is recognized as independent country by the Byzantine Empire.
682: Revival of the Turkic Khaganate by the efforts of Ilterish Qaghan and Tonyukuk
683: Dapunta Hyang Sri Jayanasa performed Siddhayatra as the journey to expand his
influence. The event mentioned in several inscriptions such as Telaga Batu inscription,
Talang Tuo inscription and Kedukan Bukit inscription. The beginning of Srivijaya
hegemony over the maritime region around Malacca Strait and Sunda Strait.6
683–685: The Second Fitna.
686: Srivijaya launch a naval invasion of Java, which is mentioned in Kota Kapur
inscription. This likely contributed to the end of Tarumanagara kingdom.7
687: I-tsing returned to Srivijaya in on his way back from India to China. In his record he
reported that the Kingdom of Malayu was captured by Srivijaya.8
688: Emperor Justinian II of the Byzantine Empire defeats the Bulgarians.
690: Pro-Buddhist imperial consort Wu Zetian seizes power and rules as Empress of China.
691: Buddhism is made the state religion of China.
698: The Arabs capture Carthage from the Byzantine Empire.
698: Active but unofficial anti-Christian persecution begins in China
698: North–South States Period begins in Korea.
700: The Mount Edziza volcanic complex erupts in northern British Columbia, Canada.
700: The Sumatra-based Srivijaya naval kingdom flourishes and declines.9 (to 1500)
700: Wet-field rice cultivation, small towns and kingdoms flourish. Trade links are
established with China and India.10
700: The Sojomerto inscription, possibly dated around late 7th century, is discovered in
Batang, Central Java. It mentions Dapunta Selendra, possibly the ancestor of Sailendra
dynasty. The inscription was written in Old Malay, suggesting a Srivijayan link to this
dynasty. The inscription was written in Old Malay, suggesting a Srivijayan link to this
family.11
References
1. ^ The good and bad of a population drop
2. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e Roberts, J: History of the World.. Penguin, 1994.
3. ^ Jeffrey Richards. The Popes and the Papacy in the Early Middle Ages, 476–752
4. ^ Drs. R. Soekmono (1988) [1973]. Pengantar Sejarah Kebudayaan Indonesia 2, 2nd ed
(5th reprint ed.). Yogyakarta: Penerbit Kanisius. p. 37.
5. ^ Junjiro Takakusu, (1896), A record of the Buddhist Religion as Practised in India and the
Malay Archipelago AD 671–695, by I-tsing, Oxford, London.
6. ^ Soekmono, R, Drs., Pengantar Sejarah Kebudayaan Indonesia 2, 2nd ed. Penerbit
Kanisius, Yogyakarta, 1973, 5th reprint edition in 1988 p.38
7. ^ Soekmono, R, Drs., Pengantar Sejarah Kebudayaan Indonesia 2, 2nd ed. Penerbit
Kanisius, Yogyakarta, 1973, 5th reprint edition in 1988 p.39
8. ^ "Buddhist Monks Pilgrimage of Tang Dynasty". Archived from the original on 2008-12-
31. Retrieved 2013-04-29.
9. ^ Taylor (2003), pp. 22–26; Ricklefs (1991), p. 3.
10. ^ Taylor (2003), pp. 8–9, 15–18
11. ^ Boechari (1966). "Preliminary report on the discovery of an Old Malay inscription at
Sojomerto". MISI. III: 241–251.