Arabian armies, under the banner of Islam, began to sweep through Syria and Mesopotamia in 633. Within a decade, they had conquered Persia and Egypt and taken the holy city of Jerusalem. In 674, they were poised at the gates of Constantinople. By the early 800s, Islam's banners fluttered in the wind from Spain in the west to India in the east. This splendidly illustrated book tells of the great civilizations in Europe and Asia that were faced with this rapid expansion of Islam.

Includes index.

Warriors and warlords -- The prophet's quest -- The structures of Islam -- The changing face of Europe -- Empire building in the east -- Inscribing the sacred word -- The Kingdom of the Rising Sun -- Shomu's eclectic treasures.