Page:The young Moslem looks at life (1937).djvu/50

 stage was all set for the spread of this amazing religious-political movement, which had had its orgin in the Arabian desert. This expansion proceeded vigorously north, east and west. In quick succession blows were struck which sent empires reeling. The fate of the Eastern Roman Empire was decided at the battle of the river Yarmuk near the Sea of Galilee in the year A.D. 634. Damascus, a stronghold of Christianity, was taken the following year. The Persian Empire and Egypt were the next to capitulate, while the conquest of Spain and India, was begun in the same year, A.D. 711. Twelve years later the Moslem armies, having swept across North Africa from Egypt to the Straits of Gibraltar, destroying the great Christian civilizations in their path, pushed on into France. In A.D. 732 the famous Charles Martel at the battle of Tours forever turned the tide of Moslem conquest from Western Europe, although seven hundred years were to pass before the hosts of Islam were finally expelled from Spain.

Balked in Europe, Islam continued its eastward conquests. Sweeping over the whole of Asia Minor, Central Asia, India, and even into China, the Moslem power was triumphant. The Moslems demanded subjection and tribute from followers of Christianity and Judaism, since these were religions of a sacred Book. They offered others a choice of Islam or the sword. Many became Moslems for economic and social reasons. Islam was spread also by the quiet influence of Moslem traders, and the pious and zealous efforts of

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