TSR Wiki > Study Help > Subjects and Revision > Revision Notes > History > Eastern Mediterranean - Settlement and Change
Why fall to Islam so quickly? Monophysitism in Syria and Egypt – easy capitulation but still strong Cahlcedonism in Persia and Syria.
REASONS FOR SUCCESS INVASIONS
- Serious difficulties before Arabs – military pay + supplies difficult – see by Phocas – not helped by Avar and Slav raids, capital only just survives. Financial difficulties of Heracios exemplified by striking silverware from church. Byzantine recruitment for Persian campaign huge and unrepeatable effort – internal disturbances marched to C to put Phocas down
- Archaeological evidence that invasions Asia Mior, Syria, Palestine and Egypt by Persians serious and widespread destruction – stream of refugees leave east for Africa and then for Sicily
- Degree of Byzantine restoration after Persian invasion likely to be slight – little time elapsed before next invasion and Heraclius already over stretched.
- Slow to realise religious element of Arab invasions, Muhammed dies 632 then Abu Bakr – thought just Saracen invaders.
- Yes conquests but not that must change to provinces immediately
- While Heraclius celebrating victory over the Persians – major advance already taking place.
- Arabs marched right Eastern Palestine - legionary fortresses simply surrendered giving access to Southern Palestine. Desert tribes refused payment for the Byzantines allegedly joined Arab tribesmen. Infrastructure of defence which might have stopped Muslims as they moved from Arabia into Palestine and Syria simply not there
- Jews given charge Jerusalem as Persian left – hopes of resurrection of Temple – but 632 Heraclius orders mass conversion and persecuted since Justinian – blamed for collaboration with Muslims - Jewish factor seems important presence in pre-Islamic Mesopotamia, Syria and Palestine.
- Islam itself owed much to Judaism – scriptures, inheritance Abraham. Lot probably increased under Muslims.
- Ordinations of Monophysite clergy in Syria under Justinian created a divided church and gave Monophysites and established position
- Issue by no means settled in early 7th century – ironic church more concerned rally support against new imperial doctrine of Monothelitism (Heraclius new compromise) than new military dangers.
- Also split Chalcedonian hierarchy – religious divide lowers confidence and unit, but Monophysites do not prefer Muslims to Christianity. Real factors military, political and economic – weakened Byzantine presence before rather than during conquests. City also divided in this time – Monophytism cannot explain conquests – defence, or military investment in area.
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