Historical caliphates were Islamic states led by a caliph, who was considered a political and religious successor to the Prophet Muhammad. The first caliphate, the Rashidun Caliphate, emerged after Muhammad's death in 632 CE, followed by the Umayyad and Abbasid caliphates, which expanded the Islamic empire significantly across the Middle East, North Africa, and parts of Europe and Asia. These caliphates played a crucial role in the spread of Islam, the development of Islamic law, and the flourishing of science, philosophy, and art. The Abbasid Caliphate, in particular, is known for its cultural and intellectual achievements, with its capital in Baghdad becoming a center of learning during the Islamic Golden Age.