The Early Islamic Conquests began shortly after the death of the Prophet Muhammad in 632 CE. Under the leadership of the first four caliphs, known as the Rashidun Caliphs, Muslim armies expanded rapidly across the Arabian Peninsula and into neighboring regions. Key battles, such as the Battle of Yarmouk and the Battle of Qadisiyyah, led to the fall of the Byzantine and Sassanian empires. These conquests facilitated the spread of Islam and established a vast empire that included parts of North Africa, Spain, and Persia. The early Islamic state promoted trade, cultural exchange, and the dissemination of knowledge, significantly influencing the regions it encompassed.