Islamic Conquests up to 700 a.d. - Islamic Strenghts / Roman Weaknesses?

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ARE THE ISLAMIC CONQUESTS OF THE PERIOD UP TO c.7000 EXPLAINED MORE BY ARAB STRENGTHS OR PERSIAN AND ROMAN WEAKNESSES?

INTRO

Very short time – Arabic state destroys one empire and horrendously damages another in short space of time.
Leaders could not have perceived threat from early stage
Clearly Empires weak and Arabs strong – attempt to highlight both and conclude
Problems of sources

ARAB STRENGTHS

ISLAM – unifying disparate tribes, harnessing warrior nomadic power of the desert (see Roman use)
NATURE OF ISLAM – political and social unity – one universal God – umma – conscious acceptance expansion – “There is no God but of”- institutions include Muhammad and God’s laws lessening use retaliatory system. Tax system in institution as well – largest centralised Arab state by Muhammad’s death date
Sedentary groups given prevalence – nomadic life frowned upon, incompatible centralisation – enhanced by stipends system upon conquest “sooner one settles, the sooner one receives a stipend” – Muslims over non-Muslims
Donner sees administrative structure, ability to organise movement (Khalid commanded across desert, no nomadic raids) – very few animals or women on early raids)
Strength as troops – won at major battles – Donner stronger and did not meet equal force until much later – others suggest equal or even weaker in terms with generals such as Khalid – details sketchy, but no technological advances.
Turn 7^th centiury nomadic confederation overcome army of settled folk – Islam unity and inspiration to drive forward.

BYZANTINE WEAKNESS

Major problems shown after 602 – Perisan invasions into Antioch and Jerusalem, Palestine, Egypt and Syria, Phocas usurpation – only with Turkish allies do they fight a remarkable comeback – lot sacrificed melting down statues etc – 20 yrs not along time
Accelerate previous centuries problems – generations grow up in Syria, Palestine etc without imperial rule – alienated – poor management = Cyrus in Egypt (religious divides, and cultural divided) splits country – whilst no active support for invaders – less than helpful Egypt and Syria (bishops making peace with Arabs) - self government – Muslim, due to Arabic presence, seen as continuation
Little time to recover administrative ties that bound Empire together
Taken by surprise – who would expect Muslims –

PERSIAN WEAKNESS

Confusion reigning after long wars with Byzantines – enemy occupation syria and Iraq – immense floods Southern Iraq – religious disunity
Dynastic rule meant end meant difficult rulers to emerge with credibility and respect – see tend different Kings between 628-32
History social dissension – Mazdakite uprisings in 5^th and 6^th centuries – social discontents in Iran
No cultural, ethnic, linguistic identity – divides between aristocracies
LT weaknesses exacerbated by Khursau II – centralisation alienated monarchy – expedition initially successful rapidly downhill until Ctesiphon – floods and plagues do not help – ruined bitterly divided
Persian resistance ineffective after lose wealthiest province at Ctesiphon – powerful political and cultural focus – as long as that survived empire could survive

CONCLUSION

Arabs attacked at time of great weakness both sides – effects war and internal fragmentation of both states
Hard not to see Islam as huge Arab strength -amazing that Arabia unified so efficiently and so quickly – religious fanaticism – but certainly drive religious leaders and created policy – military role – ata helped initially
Military cannot underestimate this either.