1. Plural of kaliphate; the office, rank, or dominion of a khalif (Islamic religious and political leader); a state or territory ruled by a khalif.
Usage: Also spelled 'caliphates' (more common in modern English).; Historical and religious term referring to Islamic governance structures.

Examples

• The early Islamic kaliphates expanded rapidly across the Middle East and North Africa.
• Historians study the various kaliphates to understand medieval Islamic political systems.
• The Umayyad and Abbasid kaliphates were among the most powerful Islamic states.
• Different kaliphates adopted distinct administrative and legal practices.
• The decline of the Ottoman kaliphate marked a significant shift in global politics.