Byzantium and the Early Islamic Conquests

This book examines how the Byzantine Empire came to lose so much of its territory to Islamic conquerors in the seventh century.

Walter E. Kaegi (Author)

9780521484558, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 30 March 1995

328 pages, 2 b/w illus. 5 maps
22.9 x 15.3 x 2.3 cm, 0.53 kg

'An important contribution to the debate on the Arab Islamic conquests of the eastern Roman provinces in the seventh century.' John Haldon, Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society

This is a study of how and why the Byzantine Empire lost many of its most valuable provinces to Islamic (Arab) conquerors in the seventh century, provinces which included Syria, Palestine, Mesopotamia, and Armenia. It investigates conditions on the eve of those conquests, mistakes in Byzantine policy toward the Arabs, the course of the military campaigns, and the problem of local official and civilian collaboration with the Muslims. It also seeks to explain how, after terrible losses, the Byzantine government achieved some intellectual rationalisation of its disasters and began the complex process of transforming and adapting its fiscal and military institutions and political controls in order to prevent further disintegration.

Preface
1. The problem of Byzantium and the early Islamic conquests
2. The Byzantine Empire in an era of accelerating change
3. Difficulties in devising defences for Syria
4. The first Muslim penetrations of Byzantine territory
5. Early tests in southern Palestine
6. Problems of cohesion: the battle of Jabiya-Yarmuk reconsidered
7. The brief struggle to save northern Syria and Byzantine Mesopotamia
8. Byzantium, Armenia, Armenians, and early Islamic conquests
9. Controversy and confidence in the seventh-century crisis
10. Elements of failure and endurance
Bibliography
Index.

Subject Areas: Early history: c 500 to c 1450/1500 [HBLC], Asian history [HBJF]