Islamic History

Published in 2010 by Britannica Educational Publishing

(a trademark of Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.)

in association with Rosen Educational Services, LLC

29 East 21st Street, New York, NY 10010.

Distributed exclusively by Rosen Educational Services.

For a listing of additional Britannica Educational Publishing titles, call toll free (800) 237-9932.

First Edition

Britannica Educational Publishing

Michael I. Levy: Executive Editor

Marilyn L. Barton: Senior Coordinator, Production Control

Steven Bosco: Director, Editorial Technologies

Lisa S. Braucher: Senior Producer and Data Editor

Yvette Charboneau: Senior Copy Editor

Kathy Nakamura: Manager, Media Acquisition

Laura Etheredge: Assistant Editor, Middle East Geography

Rosen Educational Services

Hope Lourie Killcoyne: Senior Editor and Project Manager

Joanne Randolph: Editor

Nelson Sá: Art Director

Nicole Russo: Designer

Introduction by Alexandra Hanson-Harding

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Islamic history/edited by Laura S. Etheredge.—1st ed.

p. cm.—(The Islamic world)

“In association with Rosen Educational Services.”

Includes index.

ISBN 978-1-61530-061-7 (eBook)

1. Islamic countries—History. 2. Civilization, Islamic. 3. Islam—History. I. Etheredge, Laura S.

DS35.63.I84 2010

909'.09767—dc22

2009037874

On the cover: The Ka‘bah is a small shrine near the centre of the Great Mosque in Mecca.
Considered by Muslims worldwide to be the most sacred spot on Earth, it is the place to
which Muslims orient themselves during daily prayers. Shutterstock.com