In the seventh century something remarkable happened: Islam, the first truly global civilization was conceived. In a desert, arid area of Arabian Peninsula, an inhospitable region of rock and sand, a message was delivered to merchant from Mecca, Mohamed, a message that will resonate for 14 centuries to all continents and more than a billion people across the globe. No history of humankind has witnessed such a remarkable and swift expansion: In a mere 60 years, Arab Islamic empire was biggest empire in the history of humankind.
This essay is an attempt to discuss the main causes of expansion of from Mohamed and first “Four rightly - guided Caliphs” to the end of the twentieth century with Word and Sword. In its structure, we will briefly touch historical perspective of events that lead to the spread of Islam, consider main causes and finally concluding remarks.
Historical Background Arab peninsula was wedged in between two dominant Empires of its time, Byzantine and Sassanid (Persian), and therefore, it was influenced by its religions and cultural characteristics: Christianity from north and west with its monotheistic faith from the “Book” and Zoroastrianism with its dualistic approach. It was also a major trading route that connected continents- Africa with Middle East and central Asia and east Mediterranean region. Mecca region itself was a highly cosmopolitan centre, with wide ranging merchants, whose most prolific activity was religion, where the altar of Kaaba served as one of central worship sites in pre-Islamic polytheism. This social climate shaped the distinctive character of Islamic religion.
First Converts
Not long after prophet Mohamed received a divine message from Allah, spreading the word of God began in his household, where Khadijah, his wife and Ali, his cousin were the
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