(Originais Teachy 2023) - Question Very Hard of History

During the 7th century, the prophet Muhammad unified the Arab tribes under the Islamic faith, and after his death, the Muslim expansion was one of the fastest in history. The Orthodox Caliphate, led by the four 'rightly guided' caliphs, laid the foundations for Islamic expansion and the growth of the Muslim Empire. Considering the historical context of the time, discuss how Muhammad's death and the subsequent caliphal succession influenced the expansion of Islam and the formation of the early caliphates. Analyze the political and territorial consequences of these events for the expansion and consolidation of the Islamic empire. Also, evaluate the impact of these dynamics on the structuring of the Islamic faith and on the relationship between political and religious power in early Islamic society. In your response, consider the divergences that arose between Sunnis and Shiites and how these divisions were reflected in the context of caliphal succession and the subsequent governance of the caliphates.