The world: 640s

640–649

Events in this period 3

1. 645 · Japan · Politics

   Taika Reform

   The Taika Reforms were a set of doctrines established by Emperor Kōtoku in the year 645. They were written shortly after the death of Prince Shōtoku and the defeat of the Soga clan, uniting Japan. The reforms also artistically marked the end of the Asuka period and the beginning of the Hakuhō period. Crown Prince Naka no Ōe, Nakatomi no Kamatari, and Emperor Kōtoku jointly embarked on the details of the Reforms. Emperor Kōtoku then announced the era of "Taika" (大化), or "Great Reform".

2. 645 – 668 · Korea · War

   Goguryeo–Tang War

   The Goguryeo–Tang War occurred from 645 to 668 and was fought between Goguryeo and the Tang dynasty. During the course of the war, the two sides allied with various other states. Goguryeo successfully repulsed the invading Tang armies during the first Tang invasions of 645–648. After conquering Baekje in 660, Tang and Silla armies invaded Goguryeo from the north and south in 661, but were forced to withdraw in 662. In 666, Yŏn Kaesomun died and Goguryeo became plagued by violent dissension, numerous defections, and widespread demoralization. The Tang–Silla alliance mounted a fresh invasion in the following year, aided by the defector Yŏn Namsaeng. In late 668, exhausted from numerous military attacks and suffering from internal political chaos, Goguryeo and the remnants of Baekje army succumbed to the numerically superior armies of the Tang dynasty and Silla.

3. 647 – 709 · Africa · War

   Muslim conquest of the Maghreb

   Taking nearly 70 years, the conquest of the Maghreb was one of the longest campaigns of the early Muslim conquests. Occurring in fits and starts, the first campaigns began in the 640s soon after the fall of Egypt. In 647, the Byzantine army was defeated at Sufetula in southern Tunisia and a massive tribute was exacted. After a long interim, campaigns restarted in 665, in 670 Uqba ibn Nafi founded Qayrawan, Abu al-Muhajir Dinar began the pivotal rapprochement policy with the Berbers and their large scale recruitment, Numidia was subjugated and in 683 Uqba pushed all the way to the Atlantic, ultimately being defeated upon his return, reversing all Muslim gains. In 694 a new army was sent, taking Carthage and ending the Byzantine presence by 698. Over the next decade Musa ibn Nusayr then conquered modern day Algeria and Morocco, began the mass recruitment and Islamization of the Berbers on a scale unseen elsewhere, and set the stage for the 711 conquest of Iberia.

Descriptions are the opening paragraph of each Wikipedia article (CC BY-SA 4.0). Open an event for the full text and a link to the source.

Still under way

• Arab conquest of Egypt639 – 642
• Muslim conquest of Persia633 – 654

Around the same time

• The Hijra622
• Grand Canal (China)605 – 610
• Tang dynasty618
• Battle of Badr624
• Conquest of Mecca630
• Seventeen-article constitution604
• Battle of Salsu612
• Battle of Uhud625
• Battle of the Trench627
• Battle of the Yarmuk636
• Battle of Baekgang663
• Silla–Tang War670 – 676

Other maps for this period

• War mapsEarly Muslim conquests
• War mapsGoguryeo–Tang War
• Inventions mapCheomseongdae