Which dynasty of caliphs ruled from 661 to 750 and is known as Sunni?

The Umayyad dynasty ruled from 661 to 750 and is recognized for establishing the first great Muslim empire. This dynasty originated shortly after the death of the Prophet Muhammad and was critical in expanding Islamic influence across the Middle East, North Africa, and parts of Spain. The Umayyads are significant in that they are associated with Sunni Islam, as they represented the majority tradition in Islam that acknowledged the legitimacy of the caliphs based on their leadership and governance rather than a direct familial connection to the Prophet.

The Umayyad caliphate was known for its administrative developments, promoting trade, and the spread of the Arabic language, as well as the establishment of cultural and architectural achievements, such as the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem.

In contrast, the Abbasid dynasty, which followed the Umayyads, shifted the focus from military conquest to culture and education, establishing Baghdad as a key cultural and intellectual hub. The Fatimid dynasty, on the other hand, was a Shia caliphate focused on an alternative line of leadership, and the Seljuks were a Turkish group that gained power later and played a pivotal role in the medieval Islamic world but were not directly involved in the early caliphate succession. Therefore, the