Civilization #28: Muhammad's Revolution of God

Who was the historical Muhammad? How did Islam triumph over both the Byzantine and Sasanian empires?

In this talk to his Chinese high school students, Jiang Xueqin argues that Islam was the first global revolution.

While the Byzantine and Sasanian empires appeared to be superpowers, they were weak and fragile due to decades of plague, war, and succession struggles.

The Arabian peninsula seemed like a primitive and backward desert, but it was actually a hotbed of innovation. As traders, the Arabs were open-minded, sophisticated, and cosmopolitan. Constant tribal warfare made the Arabs into brave and honorable warriors. Religious wars and imperial persecution drove "heretics" into Arabia in order to openly practice their faith.

With his charisma and brilliance, Muhammad united the warring factions to reclaim the promised land that God had promised to their common ancestor Abraham. He promised his followers a Kingdom of God that emphasized religious tolerance and justice, inspiring them to victory even after his death.