"This is a short history of Islam from the early seventh century in Arabia to the spread of Islam in the Middle East up to the Ottoman Turkish conquest of Syria and Egypt beginning in 1516. The conquerors are often welcomed by the conquered: the monotheistic faiths of Christianity and Judaism tolerated and allowed to flourish. The author shows the impact of Islam on the Orthodox Christian communities of the Middle East and the interplay of their Greek cultural heritage and experience of increasing Arabization. The struggle of the Christian people of Greater Syria, Palestine and Egypt"-- Provided by publisher.