Book notes

Chapter 8

The East was struck hard by invading Germanic tribes. It took a long time for them to recover. Mohammed arose from Arabia in the city of Mecca. He believed that there was one god, Allah, and that he was his chief prophet. Visions from Allah were from Mohammed's mouth and were to be written down as the Koran. However, he was not very well liked and so had to flee for his life to Medina. There, he was received warmly and gained many converts. Even after Mohammed died, his influence continued and the religion grew. The band of Muslims became a fighting band and so swept across Arabia, Persia, India, Asia Minor, tried to take Constaninople twice, Syria, Palestine, Egypt, North Africa, Gibraltar, Spain, Pyrenees, and Gaul. The emblem of Islam is the crescent moon. It appeared that the Muslims might entirely take over Europe. The Franks now came forward at Europe's most needed hour. Charles, the leader of the Franks called to every Frankish man to answer the call of duty. To fight for Christianity. This was called the Battle of Tours. Here, the Franks defeated the Arabs who retreated in Spain. Charles was now known as Charles Martel, or Charles the Hammer. Many Christian countries were now Muslim. This was a great loss to Christianity.