Damascus in Syria was elected to the capital during the reign of the Umayyad dynasty from 661 to 750. This dynasty was overthrown by the authorities in 750. by the Abbasid dynasty. Abbasid caliphate was the third Islamic caliphate, succeeding the Prophet Muhammad. The Abbasid dynasty was originally from Muhammad's uncle Abbas ibn Abdul-Muttalib. After gaining power, Abbasids moved the capital to Baghdad, Iraq.