--- product_id: 487670908 title: "The Great Arab Conquests" price: "€ 33.33" currency: EUR in_stock: true reviews_count: 6 url: https://www.desertcart.at/products/487670908-the-great-arab-conquests store_origin: AT region: Austria --- # The Great Arab Conquests **Price:** € 33.33 **Availability:** ✅ In Stock ## Quick Answers - **What is this?** The Great Arab Conquests - **How much does it cost?** € 33.33 with free shipping - **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship - **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.at](https://www.desertcart.at/products/487670908-the-great-arab-conquests) ## Best For - Customers looking for quality international products ## Why This Product - Free international shipping included - Worldwide delivery with tracking - 15-day hassle-free returns ## Description A popular history of the Arab invasions that carved out an empire from Spain to China Review: Two Stars - Good book.. just a few illustrations Review: Excellent - I always wanted to get a book like this, retracing the early muslim conquests from a neutral stand point: this book is easy to read, very honest about information shortcomings (missing information about battles, strategies etc.) and retraces with detail and professionalism these amazing times of human history. Don't hesitate! ## Technical Specifications | Specification | Value | |---------------|-------| | Best Sellers Rank | #249,475 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #432 in Middle Eastern History (Books) #1,500 in History of Religion (Books) #1,696 in Islam (Books) | | Customer Reviews | 4.3 out of 5 stars 192 Reviews | ## Images ![The Great Arab Conquests - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71TJBfZ0J-L.jpg) ## Customer Reviews ### ⭐⭐ Two Stars *by V***R on 17 October 2015* Good book.. just a few illustrations ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Excellent *by R***H on 3 July 2011* I always wanted to get a book like this, retracing the early muslim conquests from a neutral stand point: this book is easy to read, very honest about information shortcomings (missing information about battles, strategies etc.) and retraces with detail and professionalism these amazing times of human history. Don't hesitate! ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Superb history of Islamic expansion *by D***N on 25 August 2008* In 680, an Iraqi monk asked (I am paraphrasing) "How is it the Arabs created such an enormous empire (by 744 it would stretch from the Pyrenees to the Hindu-Kush) so quickly?" Hugh Kennedy answers this in _The Great Arab Conquests_. His conclusions may surprise you. Kennedy begins with an introduction to Arabia before Mohammed, giving context to the social and political climate of the people who would embark on this wide-spread conquest. Following the death of Mohammed in 632, Kennedy explains the motives behind Islam's expansion outside Arabia. At the risk of oversimplifying a well-researched and well-written account, it was primarily due to opportunities for individual glory and wealth, not religious zeal, as one might expect. What is most interesting, perhaps, is not the "why" behind the expansion, but the "how". Afterall, the Sassanid and Byzantine Empires were wealthy, powerful and well-organized; that their vast holdings in present-day Iraq, Iran, the Levant and Egypt would collapse so quickly was far from a given. Kennedy does an outstanding job of illlustrating this, as well. To briefly touch on a few points: both the Byzantines and Sassanids had exhausted themselves from warfare between them, and their constituent populations saw the Arab invaders as "liberators". Additionally, the Muslims did not force Islam on the conquored - rather, they were primarily interested in collecting tribute (which, in some cases, was less than had been paid in taxes to either Byzantine or Sassanid overlords). Finally, there was a strong social component as well: Islam is egalitarian, giving the poor and dispossesed an opportunity to become one of the "conquoring" class. As Kennedy points out, there has been little scholarship around this question (historians are either Islamists, ancient historians or historians of the Middle Ages - this period of time straddles all three) and the available sources are not primary. Nonetheless, he has done a remarkable job in answering the question posed by this 7th century monk. The book was a little heavy on the military history for my taste, and I wanted to give it four stars. To be fair, however, conquoring is a function of the military, and the title clearly states its objective is the nature of Muslim conquest - therefore I can't fault the book on this point. I would also add that the maps are excellent, providing a useful tool to reference as you read Kennedy's narrative. Highly recommended for historians and armchair historians, and for those who seek a better understanding of the Near East. ## Frequently Bought Together - The Great Arab Conquests: How the Spread of Islam Changed the World We Live In - Bloomsbury The Golden Road: How Ancient India Transformed the World --- ## Why Shop on Desertcart? - 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016 - 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories - 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price - 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members) - 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection - ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews **Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.at/products/487670908-the-great-arab-conquests](https://www.desertcart.at/products/487670908-the-great-arab-conquests) --- *Product available on Desertcart Austria* *Store origin: AT* *Last updated: 2026-07-13*