![]() The Coptic Church in Egypt was reduced to a fraction of its original size. Most catholic communities in Syria, Middle East and North Africa converted to the Islam. This also stopped the progress of Christianity, set in motion during Roman times. Coming from nowhere, within 50 years the Muslims had taken over the Persia Empire and Syria, North Africa and Spain from the Romans and thus created an instant new world power. What followed after Muhammad (570 -632) had united the Arab tribes is n one of the most remarkable conquest the world has ever seen. Muslims had already conquered Spain and started to invade Palestine and took Jerusalem, Vikings, Magyars and Slavs also created havoc in Europe. With the collapse of the Carolingian Empire and soon afterwards the decline of the Byzantium Empire, other groups started to invade areas that had been under Christian rule. The significant increase in religious activity also saw an explosion of church building, devotion, the worship of relics and so on. In particular they have to be placed in the context of the militant religious developments that were happening in Europe. The battles between east and west are still one of the major conflict trigger points of the 21 st century. The Crusades should be seen in that context and were as such a series of cultural and religious motivated military conflicts. On the other side, the Muslims conquered Spain and parts of what is now southern France and the Ottomans conquered Byzantium and the Balkans and stood in front of the gates of Vienna. ![]() The Romans conquered large parts of the Middle East (which they called Asia) and while less successful the crusaders followed in their footsteps, however this time based on religion rather than pure conquest. During the Greek period we saw battles between the Greek and the Persians. The first people who arrived in what is now Europe some 5000 years ago came from an area around the Caspian Sea. Throughout history there has been tension between east and west. ![]()
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