Question bank: Islam: Birth and Expansion

During the 7th century, the Arabian Peninsula was the stage for the expansion of Islam, led by the prophet Muhammad and his successors. This process brought profound religious, political, and cultural changes that extended beyond Arab borders. The conquest of new territories and the subsequent Islamic administration of these regions represented a milestone in world history. Based on the presented context, analyze and discuss: 1) How is the expansion of Islam related to the formation of Arab peoples and the political unification of the Arabian Peninsula? 2) What were the main strategies adopted by the Arabs for the conquest of new territories and how did this process influence the later invasion and occupation of the Iberian Peninsula by the Muslims?

Describe the historical context that led to the birth of Islam and explain how this religion spread throughout the Arabian Peninsula, North Africa, and the Iberian Peninsula. Consider the geography, political and social factors, and the relationship of Islam with the Byzantine Empire and the Sassanid Persian Empire during this expansion process.

Islamism emerged in the Arabian Peninsula in the 7th century and, in a short period of time, rapidly expanded beyond its original borders, reaching North Africa and later the Iberian Peninsula. This expansion was driven by a combination of factors, including religious, economic, and political motivations. According to historian Hugh Kennedy, 'The Islamic expansion was one of the most impressive and significant in world history.' ('The Great Arab Conquests', 2007). Based on your knowledge, write an essay discussing the main factors that contributed to the rapid expansion of Islamism and analyze how this expansion process impacted local societies and cultures during the medieval period. In your text, include a reflection on the possible consequences of Islamic expansion for shaping the modern world, considering any legacies left in regions beyond the Middle East.

Consider the following excerpt from the historian Arnold Toynbee: 'For an Arab, religion is as natural as the language he speaks, and he sees Islam as an Arab, who considers it as his own language'. Based on this cultural and historical view of the relationship between the expansion of Islam and Arab identity, answer: (1) How did the political and social context of the Arabian Peninsula contribute to the birth and spread of Islam? (2) Explain how the advance of Muslim forces to North Africa and the Iberian Peninsula reflects both religious and geographical and economic aspects.