The Great Arab Conquests: How the Spread of Islam Changed the World We Live InToday's Arab world was created at breathtaking speed. In just over one hundred years following the death of Mohammed in 632, Arabs had subjugated a territory with an east-west expanse greater than the Roman Empire, and they did it in about one-half the time. By the mid-eighth century, Arab armies had conquered the thousand-year-old Persian Empire, reduced the Byzantine Empire to little more than a city-state based around Constantinople, and destroyed the Visigoth kingdom of Spain. The cultural and linguistic effects of this early Islamic expansion reverberate today. This is the first popular English-language account in many years of this astonishing remaking of the political and religious map of the world. Hugh Kennedy's sweeping narrative reveals how the Arab armies conquered almost everything in their path, and brings to light the unique characteristics of Islamic rule. One of the few academic historians with a genuine talent for story telling, Kennedy offers a compelling mix of larger-than-life characters, fierce battles, and the great clash of civilizations and religions. |
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LibraryThing Review
User Review - le.vert.galant - LibraryThingAs complete an account as can be hoped for given the sparseness of the source material. Ultimately, it answers the question that drives the narrative: Why were there Arab conquests so swift and so successful? Read full review
LibraryThing Review
User Review - iftyzaidi - LibraryThingThis book is a superb example of popular history that retains scholarly authenticity. Hugh Kennedy manages to not only write in an accessible, engaging style that is perfect for the layman, he also ... Read full review
Contents
CONTENTS | 296 |
List of Illustrations and Maps | 351 |
Remembrance of Things Past | 363 |
The Foundations of Conquest | 377 |
| 415 | |
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Common terms and phrases
According Africa allowed ancient Arab Arab conquests army attack authority base battle became began Berbers brought Byzantine caliph called campaign capital centre century Chosroes Christian Chronicle churches clear coming commander conquered crossed death defeated defenders described early east Egypt Empire enemy established fighting followed forces frontier give governor Greek hand horses important inhabitants invaders Iran Iraq Islam killed king known lands later lived major military mosque mountains Mu¯sa Muhammad Muslim armies Muslim conquest never ordered period Persian probably Qutayba raid reached religion remained resistance returned river Roman rule Sasanian saying seems sent settled ships sources story Syria Tabari taken took town tradition tribe troops Turks Umar walls
Bibliographic information
| Title | The Great Arab Conquests: How the Spread of Islam Changed the World We Live In Business book summary |
| Author | Hugh Kennedy |
| Edition | illustrated, reprint |
| Publisher | Da Capo Press, 2007 |
| ISBN | 0306815850, 9780306815850 |
| Length | 421 pages |
| Subjects | › › History / Europe / Medieval History / Middle East / General History / World Religion / Islam / History |
| Export Citation | BiBTeX EndNote RefMan |