The Muslims in Europe
Hugh Kennedy
In the western half of Mediterranean, Muslims were able to establish sustainable states on European shores. The Arab assaults Sicily brought a halt by great Berber rebellion 741. history Muslim conquest in ninth century is largely based much later Arabic chronicles, notably compilations Ibn al-Athīr and Idhārī. main arena for raids was mainland southern Italy. earliest phases historical literature from Spain, known as al-Andalus sources, are represented akhbār, or individual anecdotes. Iberian peninsula 711 716 logical extension North Africa. settlement widely dispersed throughout with exception northern mountains. ʿAbd al-Raḥmān, therefore, only leader who could appeal across above tribal loyalties wide cross-section society Spain.
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