Al-Walid I was an Umayyad caliph who ruled from 705 to 715 CE. He is known for expanding the Islamic empire significantly, overseeing conquests in North Africa, Spain, and Central Asia. His reign marked a period of prosperity and cultural development within the empire. Under Al-Walid I, the capital of the Umayyad Caliphate, Damascus, flourished as a center of art and architecture. He commissioned the construction of notable structures, including the Great Mosque of Damascus, which remains an important religious site today. His leadership helped solidify the Umayyad dynasty's influence in the Islamic world.