What is a caliphate?

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The caliphate was the Arab Muslim state that that existed primarily during the Middle Ages following the death of the Prophet Muhammad in 632 C.E. and lasting until the Mongol conquest of Baghdad in 1258. The caliphate was a theocracy (a state that is both political and religious), and the head of state was called the caliph, which literally meant "successor to Muhammad." The centuries-old conflict within Islam, between Sunni and Shi'ite denominations, began in 632 with regard to the selection of the caliph. Over time, the two factions developed some varied beliefs and practices.

What Is a Caliphate