Islamic Conquests and Civil War - Early Middle Ages, 284-1000

Explore the Islamic conquests and their impact on the Early Middle Ages in this 50-minute lecture from Yale University. Delve into the motivations behind the Arab conquests, their rapid expansion from Spain to India, and the treatment of non-Muslim populations. Examine the factors that contributed to the success of these conquests, including the weakness of the Byzantine and Persian empires. Investigate the internal divisions that arose within Islam, leading to the Sunni-Shiite split, and analyze the criticisms of the Caliphate and ruling family. Gain insights into the changing demographics of the Muslim population as it became increasingly non-Arab. The lecture covers five key chapters: the paradoxes of Islamic conquest, Mohammed's successors and early conquests, factors favoring Arab conquest, the extent of Arab conquests, and internal divisions within Islam.