How Tolerance Fueled Early Islamic Expansion

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When Islam exploded onto the scene in the 7th century, it was entering an arena that was crowded with competing religious ideas. The world that Islam expanded into was awash with multiple different competing religions. Some religions were in ascendancy, and others were starting to fade, but the region was anything but a religious vacuum.

Christianity was feeling triumphant after the conversation with Emperor Constantine centuries earlier. Constantinople and Rome remained two solid pillars of the faith. Judaism was still a very prominent force in the region. A teetering Persian Empire was intent on exporting Zoroastrianism to the masses in a bid to reclaim their ancient heritage. Buddism was spreading westward from the mountain monasteries and tradeposts along the Silk Roads. It was through this religious soup that Islam emerged. And unlike many modern notions, it was very accommodating and tolerant. It had to be to survive.

Early Islamic Conquests

Many believe that Islam erupted from the Arabian peninsula and swept over the world with an appetite for conquest, which is partially true. The Arab armies that conquered so much in so little time benefited from political turmoil in the region. Constantinople was faltering, and the Persian Empire was…