# Arab conquest of Egypt (641)

URL: https://christianity-history.com/timeline/641-arab-conquest-of-egypt
Location: Alexandria, Egypt
Themes: War

Egypt, heartland of Coptic Christianity, falls to the Rashidun Caliphate. At this point in the timeline (641), the Bishop of Rome was Pope John IV (24 December 640 – 12 October 642).

## Why it matters
Arab conquest of Egypt mattered because it shows how warfare and conquest affected Christian communities and the relations between faiths.

Pope at the time: [Pope John IV](https://christianity-history.com/popes/pope-john-iv)

## Sources
- [Wikipedia — Arab conquest of Egypt](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab_conquest_of_Egypt)
- [Encyclopaedia Britannica topic lookup — Arab conquest of Egypt](https://www.britannica.com/search?query=Arab+conquest+of+Egypt)
- [Wikipedia — Age Of Councils (period overview)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_seven_ecumenical_councils)