Question bank: Arabs: Expansion of Islam

The expansion of Islam, which began in the 7th century, was a process that not only defined the geopolitical map of the Arab world, but also the spread of a new faith, culture, and language. Islamic expansion reached the Iberian Peninsula, where it significantly influenced society, economy, and culture. Considering this historical context, describe to what extent the expansion of Islam was a cultural phenomenon beyond a military movement and how these cultural aspects still resonate in the Iberian Peninsula today.

Describe how Islam expanded from the Arabian Peninsula, conquering new territories and influencing the culture and politics of the regions it passed through. Also, explain the significance of the Islamic conquest of the Iberian Peninsula for the history of Europe. This expansion was driven by both religious and economic motivations. Mention a historical fact that exemplifies each of these motivations.

The expansion of Islam in the early 7th century was a crucial event that shaped world history, transforming social, political, and cultural structures in vast areas of the Middle East, North Africa, and the Iberian Peninsula. The Arab conquest was not only military but also involved the spread of a new faith and ways of organizing society. As historian Marshall G. S. Hodgson notes in 'The Venture of Islam': 'Islam was, in its inception, much more than a religious message; it was a powerful intellectual and social movement that challenged established traditions and provided a new framework for life and culture.' Considering this perspective, discuss the role of the expansion of Islam in creating an interconnected world and the implications of this process for the formation of cultural and social identities in the conquered regions. In your response, evaluate how the principles of Islam may have influenced and managed relations between the communities that coexisted before the Muslim expansion and the new populations under Islamic rule.

Who was the prophet of Islam?

Islam is the predominant religion in most Arab countries and has been part of the culture of these peoples since the early days of their formation. The word 'Islam' means submission to the will of God, which is revealed in the Holy Scripture of Islam, the Quran. Who was the man responsible for bringing Islam to the world?