Comments on: History essay question

By: John Sobieski

John Sobieski — Tue, 22 Nov 2005 21:26:54 +0000

I have posted the entire book Islam and the Psychology of the Musulman by Andre Servier. He goes into considerable detail about the first 200 years of Islam in several chapters. It is at

http://musulmanbook.blogspot.com

By: Brian Boru

Brian Boru — Thu, 17 Nov 2005 09:03:54 +0000

In 395, the Roman Empire was divided into East and West, each with a separate Emperor. The West collapsed in 476 (but this was 160 years before Islam). The Eastern Roman Empire lost Syria, Egypt, Palestine, and North Africa to the Arabs by 697. Reasons include:

A: The Eastern Romans (Byzantines) had just come out of a long war with Persia and were too exhausted to effectively resist.

B: Religious persecution of Christian heresies e.g. Monophysitism, encouraged many in these areas not to help resist the invaders, as the Muslims had promised them toleration under Muslim rule.

By: simon

simon — Thu, 17 Nov 2005 00:13:27 +0000

From what i know about it they won like america in world war 2 nepolean prussia etc through better science. But i would say that :)

By: Gavin Sheridan

Gavin Sheridan — Wed, 16 Nov 2005 15:02:05 +0000

Thanks Tony, Sinead I have looked at other books by Hugh Kennedy in relation the Islam in Spain - with thanks to Juan Cole for directing me ‘Muslim Spain and Portugal’ by Kennedy - but I will look for the one you mention. I might even post my essay once it’s done! hehe

By: SinÃ©ad

I took a Middle East History course in my final year in UCD. It was only from 1925 onwards but the core course text was ME Yapp’s book The Near East since the First World War: A History to 1995 (it has been updated since). The same publishers also have a book called The Prophet and the Age of The Caliphates: the Islamic Near East from the sixth to the eleventh century by Hugh Kennedy.
Might be worth a look?

By: Tony Allwright

Tony Allwright — Wed, 16 Nov 2005 10:21:01 +0000

Try Sword of the Prophet by Serge Trifkovic
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/1928653111/qid=1132136374/sr=2-2/ref=sr_2_11_2/203-2137039-3341546