This new information came from:
The Pocket Bible Handbook by Henry H. Haley.
Mohammed (570 - 632 AD), Born in Mecca. Detested idolatry as a young man.
610 Mohammed declared himself to be a prophet, but was rejected at Mecca.
622 Mohammed fled to Medina where he spread his faith by the sword.
630 Returned to Mecca with an army and destroyed 360 idols.
His successors were called Caliphs. From 634 to 711 his followers conquered Syria, Jerusalem, Egypt, Persia, N. Africa and Spain. This was the original Christian territory that was defiled by the unscriptural idolatry that the Mohammedans despised.
Battle of Tours, France 732: Charles Martel (Father of Pepin and grandfather of Charlemagne) spared Europe from the invading Moslems.
Arabs ruled the Moslem world 622-1058 then the Turks took over. They were more intolerant and cruel than the Arabs. Their treatment of Christians in Palestine led to the Crusades.
The Mongols from central Asia and their ruler, Genghis Kahn (1206-1227), took the leadership from the Turks. They murdered 5,000,000 people throughout Asia. Killed 630,000 Christians in Asia Minor. Tamerlane (1336-1402) was equally brutal.
Constantinople fell to the Turks in 1453, ending the Eastern half of the Roman Empire. Europe's survival was again threatened. Polish king John Sobieski finally stopped the Turkish terror in the battle of Vienna 1683.
End of information from: The Pocket Bible Handbook by Henry H. Haley.
8th century:
The Arabs spread into North Africa, where they conscripted the Berbers into the Islamic religion. The Berbers may have been Caucasian and had some knowledge of Christianity. They then invade Spain, defeating the Visigoths.
720-732: They Arabs venture into France, where they are defeated.
9th century to 11th century:
The Arabs invade Europe again, this time as sailors launching from Africa, Spain and Balearics.
Circa 842: From the Mediterranean Sea they sailed up the Rhone River to penetrate into France and plunder along the river.
890: Saracens arriving from Spain were blown of course towards the coast of Provence (Saint Tropez). They hid until nightfall and massacred the villagers. Arabs also built a fort in the mountains of Le Freinet and from there raided coastal cities and took slaves.
They attack Spain, France and Italy, plundering, taking slaves and murdering the inhabitants on the coasts and navigable rivers. The Arabs could raid along the Alps, the Sierras of Spain and the Mahreb, attacking the valleys below. They also went northward to the upper Rhine valleys. They sacked and burned monasteries, and attacked Pilgrims, travelers and merchants.
Charlemagne got revenge by executing 4,500 Saracen prisoners for killing missionaries and burning churches.
972: After ransom was paid for the Abbott of Cluny, William, the Count of Provence, aided by Rhone nobles defeated the Saracens of Le Freinet.
10th century:
In 982 Roman Emperor Otto II (a Saxon) sought to take southern Italy from the Arabs. He was defeated, and the Arabs controlled Sicily and raided throughout southern Italy.
11th and 12th centuries:
1060: The Normans defeat the Byzantines (Greeks) and Arabs, and control Sicily and southern Italy for 100 years. The Italians also fought the Arabs and there were raids and rescues of slaves, and some monks also purchased Christian captives from Arab pirates.
1015: Italians from Pisa, Genoa and Almafi removed the Saracens form Sardinia and the ports of Mgahreb.
1092: Italians removed the Arabs from Spain.
15th century:
King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella expelled most of the Berbers (who were known as Moors) from Spain.
Like most conquerors, the Arabs did more than kill and plunder during their invasion of Europe. There is always the good that goes along with the bad (especially if you are reading history and not experiencing it).
711: The Arabs conquered Cordoba, Spain, and established it as the capital of their kingdom. In the year 784 they began work on what is known as the Great Mosque. Cordoba was a place of knowledge, attracting scholars, scientists and other progressive minds.
1239: In Granada, Spain, construction on the Palace of Alhambra began. Towers, courtyards, patios, gardens, pools and fountains are some of its beautiful features.
The Ottoman Empire:
1300-1326: The Ottoman Turks waged war against non-Muslims in the Middle East.
1326-1361: They then set their sights in Eastern Europe, conquering northwestern Greece.
1361-1389: The Turks gain control of Yugoslavia and Bulgaria. The Turks also took Christian boys from their families and used them as slaves, soldiers and administrators.
(Also in the 14th century the Mongols were also active. Led by Genghis Kahn they captured India, South Russia, Persia, the Middle East, Poland and Hungary. The Mongolian Tartars, a resourceful bunch, boiled their captives to make incendiary fat).
1400: Turks control Macedonia, most of Greece, a portion of the Austrian Empire, Bosnia, Serbia, Bulgaria and Montenegro.
1453: Captured the Greek capital of Constantinople and changed its name to Istanbul.
1520: Turks take Hungary (as well as India Iraq, Iran, Arabia and North Africa).
1526: The Turks enslave Hungary.
Late 16th century: the Turks start to lose their power.
1571: The fleets of Spain, Venice and the Papal States of Italy defeat the Ottoman navy.
1683: The Austrians repel the advancing Ottomans.
1800's: Greece, Austria, Serbia and Russia weaken the Ottomans even more.
1918: After World War I, the Ottoman reign is over.
