Expansion: Discuss the internal features of Islam and context of Arabia and beyond that contributed to Islam's attraction and rapid rise
             Theological, geographical, and political reasons all enabled Islam to rapidly spread throughout the Middle East. The first and most important factor in the spread of Islam was the creation of a sacred book, known as the Koran, which provided a record of Muhammad's visions. The creation of such a book gave his legacy prophetical legitimacy, and enabled his teachings to be passed on after his demise. The sacred Islamic laws called the Shari'a, established after Muhammad's death gave further coherence and institutional structure to the emerging religion ("Islam," 2008, Meta-Religion).
             The geographical nature of the Middle East also enabled the religion to spread quickly-along with the conquests of Middle Eastern leaders. Christian Europe was also in a state of decline. After the reign of the four Rashidun, or 'rightly guided' caliphs, Islamic authority shifted to the leaders of the Umayyad in Damascus, later overthrown by the Abbasid. "By 850 central control were gone, local dynasties rising to supremacy. These included the Fatamids, who gained control of Egypt. The Umayyad escaped the Abbasids, taking Spain from 756-1031, the Abbasids wiped out by the Mongols in 1258. Islam remained uncoordinated until the 16th century Ottomans from Turkey" (North, 2007). But after this time, Islamic expansion became "substantial," (North 2007).
             After this period, Islam's religious expansion became inexorably linked to Ottoman political and economic expansion. In 643 Persia and Egypt became part of the Ottoman Empire, creating an Islamic naval force. Finally, the Umayyad invaded Spain in 709. Through trade Islam spread into Nigeria and West Africa (North 2007). The military power of its rulers, the geographic situation of the Ottoman Empire, and t...