rompt: List and explore in depth the factors that contributed to the rapid and widespread adoption of the Islamic faith and the creation of an empire that extended from Spain to the furthest borders remote areas of the Persian Empire. Hook quote: “The rapidity of military conquest and expansive political dominance should not lead one to conclude that suddenly the entire known world had converted to Islam. It was not primarily missionary zeal that motivated the troops, but the promise of adventure and spoils. This is not to say that their leaders entirely avoided redirecting the heavenly reward for bringing the world into the embrace of Islam, but overall, the desire for conversion was secondary at best.” (p. 19-20) – 101 Questions and AnswersIntro: Thesis: Islam and the Islamic Empire began suddenly and spread rapidly over a period of more than 500 years for political, cultural, and religious reasons. • At the age of 40, Muhammad had a sudden revelation from God. In 613 AD, Muhammad began his preaching. • During his lifetime, he began the Muslim ummah, "community" in Arabic, which was the basis of the Empire.Support 1:Political:• "Roman Empire divided into West and East in the 4th Century” (101 questions and answers). The eastern part (“Byzantium”) gathered power in the Middle East and North Africa, the same area that later controlled the Islamic Empire.• Suggests that studying Byzantium provides clues to understanding the spread of Islam.• Rome fell in 476 BC, but the Byzantium empire remained strong.• Byzantium split into 2 groups: Ghassinids and Lakhmids • Ghassinids: Christians, controlled southern Egypt, Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan • Sassanid Persian Empire: ruled Iraq and much of Iran and contained a Lakhmid ethnic group who were Zoroastrians • Growing Islam of size a... medium of paper... ability to unite "all people in the service of God or Allah" (101 questions and answers). “The ultimate goal is a return to the original unity in which all creation worships God together” (101 questions and answers). This suggests that Islam spread rapidly among Jews and Christians because it appealed to their desire to live in a unified reality. • One thing that was not a primary factor in military conquest, was the religious beliefs of the troops. Most of the troops who fought to expand the Islamic Empire did so because of the “promise of adventure and spoils.” (p. 20) --101 Questions and Answers • “Overall, the desire for conversion was secondary at best” (p. 20) - 101 Questions and Answers• Tolerance – Caliphates respected the diets and rituals of the “thousand ”, or religious offshoots. A certain tolerance within the Islamic Empire allowed for an even balance between the natives and the Islamic authorities who took over them.