Damascus (Umayyad World)

Damascus is one of the largest cities in the Islamic world, and has served as the cultural center of multiple Islamic empires and caliphates. It has a population of about 2.6 million people currently, and is a heritage center for Muslims across the globe. Today, it stands as the capital of the Umayyad Caliphate, having previously been captured by the Abbasids and others at various times throughout its history. During its time under Abbasid rule, it's significance began to severely decline, but at the end of the long and bloody Umayyad Civil War, it was restored as the capital of the caliphate and rose once again to its former glory and has remained that way ever since.