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By Muhammad’s death, Muslim forces had unified the Arabian Peninsula and created an empire from China through North Africa and the Iberian Peninsula. The Muslim incursion into Europe was facilitated by the decline of the Western Roman Empire. The Muslim invaders had unity in Islam. The conquest was most extensive in Western Europe (Spain and France) but also extended to islands in Mediterranean and southern Italy. Muslim expansion into Eastern Europe prevented by failure to take Constantinople.
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Prophet Muhammad, founder of Islam, dies in Medina. Muslim world expanding. https://cpnagasaki.wordpress.com/2014/06/08/the-death-of-muhammad-june-8th-632-a-d-known-facts-and-pertinent-questions/ (picture)
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Muslim armies begin conquest of what is now North Africa. https://attwiw.com/2014/04/02/islamic-history-part-18-the-conquest-of-iberia-711-759/ (picture)
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https://www.infoplease.com/atlas/cyprus (picture)
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Conquest continued until 1850
http://www.historyofjihad.org/italy.html (picture) -
Considered a key European city as well as gateway to Eastern Europe. "Greek Fire” repelled the Muslim invaders. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constantinople (picture)
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Tangier was the gateway between Africa and Europe- firmly under Muslim control. Conquest of North America now complete. http://www.worldatlas.com/af/ma/01/where-is-tangier.html (picture)
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Muslim forces commanded by Tariq Ibn Ziyad cross into Iberian Peninsula. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iberian_Peninsula (picture)
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Decisive victory for Muslim forces at Battle of Guadelete against King of Christian Visigoths, Roderick. Opens Iberian Peninsula to Islamic expansion. (711 or 712 AD) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Guadalete (picture)
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With about 10-20,000 men the Muslims conquered the rest of Hispanic, crossed the Pyrenees, and were poised to enter Septimania and Provence (modern-day France). (711-717 AD) https://www.pinterest.com/pin/404127766532669221/ (picture)
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Septimania region (southwestern France) is conquered. Islamic forces pick off the small kingdoms of the area one by one. http://www.historyofjihad.org/france.html (picture)
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Muslim land and sea forces decisively defeated, once again by deployment of “Greek Fire” against their fleet, thus keeping Constantinople open for reinforcement from the sea. Victory postponed Muslim advance into southeast Europe for centuries. (717-718 AD) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_Constantinople_(717–718) (picture)
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Muslim advance northward stopped by victory of Franks under Charles Martel. Significant in that stopped Muslim advance into Europe. Europe remained a Christian area. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Tours (picture)
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Martel, his son, and grandson, Charlemagne began the process of removing Muslim invaders from Gaul (France) and Hispania (Spain and Portugal). This ends Muslim invasion of Western Europe.
(Post 732 AD) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Martel (picture) -
Muslim forces conquer island of Crete. http://ffcgrow.com/getting-to-know-the-island-of-crete/ (picture)
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Muslim forces raid and burn Rome. http://www.history.com/news/6-infamous-sacks-of-rome (picture)
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Muslim force conquer southern Italy and remain for 25 years. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Islam_in_southern_Italy (picture)
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Muslim forces complete conquest of Sicily. Remained under Muslim control until 11th century when the Normans conquered and drove out the Muslims. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muslim_conquest_of_Sicily (picture)
