Final answer:
The term 'caliph' refers to the Muslim leader seen as a political and religious successor to Prophet Muhammad, with the area under a caliph's control being called a 'caliphate'. The position has evolved through history, starting with the Rashidun, followed by Abbasid, and Ottoman caliphates, each with varying degrees of political and spiritual authority.
Step-by-step explanation:
Term and Position of the Caliph
The term caliph ("khalifa" in Arabic), refers to a Muslim ruler and is a title that designates a spiritual and secular leader in the Islamic world. The caliphate is the area under the control of a caliph. After the death of Prophet Muhammad, the caliph was seen as his political and religious successor, the first being the Rashidun Caliphate , Abbasids, and later the Ottomans. Throughout history, the role and conceptualization of the caliph changed, with different sects like the Shi'a believing in the spiritual and religious authority of their imams who were also caliphs
Initially, the Rashidun Caliphate (632-661) consisted of the rightly-guided caliphs who were close companions and relatives of Muhammad. However, as the Islamic empire expanded, it became difficult to govern, leading to splintering and the eventual rise of subsequent caliphates with shifting capitals and cultural influences. The Caliphate moved the capital to Damascus and was known for establishing al-Andalus in Spain. The Abbasids later controlled a vast region and their capital, Baghdad, became a hub of the Islamic Golden Age. Finally, the Ottomans, who were of Turkic origin, also held the title of caliphs, with their capital in Istanbul.