Revision:Islamic Conquests up to 700 a.d. - Islamic Strenghts / Roman Weaknesses?

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ARE THE ISLAMIC CONQUESTS OF THE PERIOD UP TO c.7000 EXPLAINED MORE BY ARAB STRENGTHS OR PERSIAN AND ROMAN WEAKNESSES?

INTRO

• Very short time Arabic state destroys one empire and horrendously damages another in short space of time.
• Leaders could not have perceived threat from early stage
• Clearly Empires weak and Arabs strong attempt to highlight both and conclude
• Problems of sources

ARAB STRENGTHS

• ISLAM unifying disparate tribes, harnessing warrior nomadic power of the desert (see Roman use)
• NATURE OF ISLAM political and social unity one

  universal God umma conscious acceptance expansion There is no God

  but of”- institutions include Muhammad and God’s laws lessening use

  retaliatory system. Tax system in institution as well largest centralised

  Arab state by Muhammad’s death date
• Sedentary groups given prevalence nomadic life

  frowned upon, incompatible centralisation enhanced by stipends system

  upon conquest sooner one settles, the sooner one receives a stipend”

  Muslims over non-Muslims
• Donner sees administrative structure, ability to

  organise movement (Khalid commanded across desert, no nomadic raids)

  very few animals or women on early raids)
• Strength as troops won at major battles Donner

  stronger and did not meet equal force until much later others suggest

  equal or even weaker in terms with generals such as Khalid details

  sketchy, but no technological advances.
• Turn 7^th centiury nomadic confederation

  overcome army of settled folk Islam unity and inspiration to drive

  forward.

BYZANTINE WEAKNESS

• Major problems shown after 602 Perisan invasions

  into Antioch and Jerusalem, Palestine, Egypt and Syria, Phocas usurpation

  only with Turkish allies do they fight a remarkable comeback lot

  sacrificed melting down statues etc 20 yrs not along time
• Accelerate previous centuries problems

  generations grow up in Syria, Palestine etc without imperial rule

  alienated poor management Cyrus in Egypt (religious divides, and

  cultural divided) splits country whilst no active support for invaders

  less than helpful Egypt and Syria (bishops making peace with Arabs) - self government Muslim, due to

  Arabic presence, seen as continuation
• Little time to recover administrative ties that bound Empire together
• Taken by surprise who would expect Muslims

PERSIAN WEAKNESS

• Confusion reigning after long wars with Byzantines

  enemy occupation syria and Iraq immense floods Southern Iraq

  religious disunity
• Dynastic rule meant end meant difficult rulers to

  emerge with credibility and respect see tend different Kings between

  628-32
• History social dissension Mazdakite uprisings in 5^th and 6^th centuries social discontents in Iran
• No cultural, ethnic, linguistic identity divides between aristocracies
• LT weaknesses exacerbated by Khursau II

  centralisation alienated monarchy expedition initially successful

  rapidly downhill until Ctesiphon floods and plagues do not help ruined

  bitterly divided
• Persian resistance ineffective after lose

  wealthiest province at Ctesiphon powerful political and cultural focus

  as long as that survived empire could survive

CONCLUSION

• Arabs attacked at time of great weakness both sides effects war and internal fragmentation of both states
• Hard not to see Islam as huge Arab strength -amazing that Arabia unified so

  efficiently and so quickly religious fanaticism but certainly drive

  religious leaders and created policy military role ata helped

  initially
• Military cannot underestimate this either.

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