 Lebanon was directly affected by the various dynastic changes which brought to power successively the Umayyads, Abbasids, Fatimids, Seljuks, Ayyubids and Mamluks.During this long period, Islam spread and Arabic became the language of the administration, then progressively replaced local dialects among the population.Artifacts from the Mamluk period (636 – 1516 CE include coins, gold jewelry, and glazed terracotta bowls.