The present work in two volumes presents the life of Mohammed, the founder of the Islam faith and his successors.
The first volume covers in easy, perspicuous and flowing narrative, the admitted facts concerning Mohammed, together with such legends and traditions as have been wrought into the whole system of oriental literature; and at the same time, to give a summary of his faith.
The second volume traces the progress of the Moslem dominion from the death of Mohammed, A.D. 622, to the invasion of Spain, A.D. 710. In this period, the Moslems extended their empire and their faith over the wide regions of Asia and Africa, subverting the empire of the Khosrus; subjugating great territories in India; establishing a splendid seat of power in Syria; dictating to the conquered Kingdom of the Pharaohs; overrunning the whole northern coast of Africa; scouring the Mediterranean with their ships; carrying their conquests in one direction to the very walls of Constantinople, and in another to the extreme limits of Mauritania; in a word, trampling down all the old dynasties which once held haughty and magnificent sway in the East.
This remarkable work is thus a tribute to the spirit of Islam, which has been a great force in world history. The book will be of immense help both to scholars and layreaders. |
