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Which lands did the Rashidun caliphate conquer beyond Arabia?

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Map showing the extent of the Abbasid caliphate in the 9th century, with regions under direct Abbasid rule shaded in green, and surrounding areas under Abbasid suzerainty or controlled by other dynasties-Aghlabids of Tunisia, Idrisids of Morocco, Tahirids in the east, and the Umayyad emirate of Spain-indicated in different colors. Major cities such as Baghdad, Cairo, Mecca, and Cordoba are labeled, along with key regional boundaries.
Caliphate

During the 29-year rule of the Rashidun caliphs (632–661), the Islamic state expanded significantly beyond the Arabian Peninsula. Through military campaigns, they exerted control over the following territories:

  • Iraq and Mesopotamia: The Rashidun forces defeated the Sasanian Empire, effectively ending Sasanian rule by 651.12
  • Syria and Palestine: These regions were brought under Islamic control as the caliphate pushed the Byzantine frontier further into Asia Minor.12
  • Egypt: Following the conquest of Egypt, the region became a strategic base for further expansion by land and sea.13
  • Iran and Armenia: These areas were also incorporated into the expanding Islamic state during this period.1

Additionally, the Rashidun era saw the beginning of maritime expeditions and land-based advances into Nubia and North Africa, which laid the groundwork for later territorial growth under subsequent dynasties.3