The Great Arab Conquests

by BAGOT GLUBB JOHN

In less than fifty years, the Bedouins of Arabia established the greatest empire in the world of their day and one of the greatest in history. These years, from 630-680, not only transformed a whole vast region, but ensured that the pattern of life in the Middle East would never be the same again. Muhammed and his immediate successors decided the framework of many things for thirteen hundred years. In this vivid book, Arabic scholar John "Pasha" Glubb chronicles the amazingly short period of time in which the Bedouin Empire developed, highlighting the simplicity of its administration and the many victories achieved through sheer zeal and courage by relatively untrained and unorganized armies. Illustrated with carefully researched b&w maps, Glubb's history is made relevant and highly readable by his forthright style, his knowledge of the terrain, and his gift for seeing modern parallels, rendering this one of the best one-volume treatments of the subject ever written.

Genres: History, Middle East, Islam, Religion, Nonfiction, Military History

384 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 1963

Reviews

[Bryn Hammond · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whether this still stacks up as history I can't tell you, but in my eyes it's one of those histories that survive an amount of outdatedness. He has an amazing tale to tell and writes it grippingly, for a historian... but then he was a soldier-scholar, spent his service years with Jordan's Arab Legion 1930-56.

For me, he explains the conquests, as near as. At uni we were set an essay on why these great and sudden conquests happened, and after the texts that must have been the fashion I answered with economic and climatic factors. What nonsense -- I'm ashamed now.

Glubb, who fought with and led Arab troops -- around much of this geography -- doesn't tell you there was a drought at the right time. He explains how the tribes might be unified and how important a banner can be. In short, mental factors, and he doesn't squeeze out religious enthusiasm, as I was taught in uni. At the major battles he tells you the advantages nomad troops had and knew they had and used -- such as a night fight. Think of a people who live in tents against a people who live in towns: who's going to win at the dead of night?

This was a heroic age, if ever there was one in historical times, short-lived -- ruined of course by success. He lets you feel the spirit of the times. He picks out anecdotes that convey that spirit, and he uses them as evidence, evidence of behaviour: towards an acknowledgement of how unusual this brief age was, and how driven by human factors. He doesn't, with hindsight, forget that these conquests were impossible (except for the fact they happened) -- he doesn't assume the opposition was ripe and rotten, just because they lost.

Early in life I found this highly romantic; read it again later in life and found it valuable history. It's not that I've read much since on the Arab conquests, and I've no idea what experts think of Glubb; but it's a classic in my library.

[Phil · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was written by John Bagot Glubb, one of the 'Arabists', the group of British Empire officers that devoted themselves to living and working among the Arabs. Glubb was an officer in the Arab Legion, a mainly Jordanian Bedouin unit of the British Army.
Glubb applies his scholarship, military experience and knowledge of Arab culture to a book about the rise of Islam and the explosion of the Bedouin tribes from Arabia which overwhelmed the two greatest empires (Byzantine and Persian) of the time. The story of Mohammed's rise to become the prophet-leader of all the tribes of Arabia is told without embellishment and Glubb introduces us to an entire cast of fascinating characters as he analyzes how Islam grew into an overwhelming force. Glubb is a clever storyteller and isnt afraid to speculate about the motives and personalities of the people involved. This book, the first of a series of three, follows the progress of the Arabs and covers the great conflict that split Islam in two.
Lovers of military history and political history will be well satisfied with this flawlessly written, fascinating and now timely book.

[Benjamin Jeffrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have to say this is one of the best books on the beginnings of Islam. For anyone who is interested in the birth of Islam. The tribal rivalries that sometimes interplayed with it and the first conquests of the new empire this is a great book.

[Meg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very readable history of the early Arab conquests in the Middle East, with extensive maps to aid clarity (one oer chapter). The author is clearly fascinated by this period.

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was very interesting for me, as someone who likes history in general, and the history of changing cultures/religions in particular. But I would not say it was an engaging read overall. Some passages captivated me in their descriptions of the terrain of ancient lands in Iran, Africa, and Iraq. Other parts, detailing the blow-by-blow (as best as can be determined from few and contradictory sources) of various invasions, I skimmed. I read it on my kindle and I highlighted the key dates and interpretations and I am transferring these highlights to a file on my computer so I can reference the cliff notes version of this book in the future.

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best history, military and biographical, of those first years of Islam on the march.... A history of endless treachery and betrayal...

[Miles26 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tough read for me but I learned a lot about a subject that I had little understanding.

[Serge · Rating 4 out of 5]

Одно из первых практических исследований истории ислама и современн ислама