In God's Path

The Arab Conquests and the Creation of an Islamic Empire by Robert G. Hoyland In just over a century, from the death of Muhammad in 632 to the beginning of the Abbasid Caliphate in 750, the followers of Islam swept across the Middle East, North Africa, and Spain, claiming vast territories in roughly half the time it took the Roman Empire to reach its greatest extent. This remarkable achievement has long fascinated historians, who have sought to understand how the Arabs were able to conquer so many empires and armies in such a short period. Traditional accounts of this period are largely based on early Muslim sources, which were written to demonstrate God's choice of the Arabs as his vehicle for spreading Islam throughout the world. However, these sources offer limited insight into the wider context from which Muhammad emerged. This book offers a fresh perspective by incorporating different approaches and bodies of evidence, shedding new light on the Arab conquests and the establishment of an Islamic Empire. By examining the broader world from which Muhammad came, Hoyland provides a more nuanced understanding of the events that led to the Arab conquests. This groundbreaking work is a valuable contribution to our knowledge of Late Antique history, offering a compelling narrative that sheds new light on this pivotal period in human history.