The Umayyad and Abbasid dynasties utilized different methods of expansion. The Umayyads were more physical and dedicated to their military, while the Abbasids were more focused on studies and advancing their knowledge. The Umayyads mostly focused their expansion on coastal areas and the Abbasids focused their expansion inwards ("Abbasid vs Umayyad empire", 2012). Mu'awiyah established himself as the first Umayyad caliph during the first Muslim civil war and named Damascus the capital of the Umayyad empire. The Syrian army was the basis of the Umayyad's strength and created a united empire. Thus, allowing the expansion of Muslim rule to Khorasan and founding the garrison cities of Merv and Sistan as bases for central Asia and northwestern India