In the Shadow of the Sword

The Birth of Islam and the Rise of the Global Arab Empire

By: Tom Holland

Narrated by: Steven Crossley

The evolution of the Arab empire is one of the supreme narratives of ancient history, a story dazzlingly rich in drama, character, and achievement. In this exciting and sweeping history - the third in his trilogy of books on the ancient world - Tom Holland describes how the Arabs emerged to carve out a stupefyingly vast dominion in a matter of decades, overcoming seemingly insuperable odds to create an imperial civilization.

With profound bearing on the most consequential events of our time, Holland ties the exciting story of Islam's ascent to the crises and controversies of the present.

©2012 Tom Holland (P)2015 Tantor

Critic reviews

"Elegantly written.... A veritable tour de force. ( The Wall Street Journal)

not what I expected

I was expecting a historical review and not a religious one that was disappointing to me

Fascinating

A intriguing tour through late antiquity, ending in the rush that was the Muslim and Arab conquest of the world. Through two weakening empires.

From the Epic to the Profound to the Cheeky

Review of the Audio Book format. The study of great empires, religions and the rise and fall of both, can come in many forms. George Ostrogorsky's epic "History of the Byzantine State" does indeed chronicle the rise and fall of this empire, but also perpetually interrupted its sweeping narrative with ongoing commentaries on the latest iconoclastic controversy. Many a "history" book today, attempts to use history to prove or push the latest progressive societal desire - from gay Greeks to Cleopatra being black. What Tom Holland has done is to create a narrative of the rise of Islam, in what used to be referred to as a "ripping yarn." Great battles that turn the tide of history, the rise of fall of emperors, shahs and caliphs, and the great suffering of the masses, all are here to be read. Yet, revealed as well, is how the will of men, the curse of ingrained culture and indeed - the will of a higher power, evolved over time to create two great monotheistic religions - where once the world was nothing but pagans. We today, take the idea of a single God for granted, but it had to be forged both from war and the iron will of religious scholars, to allow it to emerge as an idea that no longer is argued. Thus, even as the reader takes in a battle that changes the course of history, pay attention to the quieter moments, when rabbinical thought or an outlawed Christian sect puts its mark on Islamic scholarship. This is just as epic, and, unlike empires, it's result still stands today. And finally, there is also the cheek. The sly commentary on the fashion sense of Persian Shahs, the notice of how desert-forged Arab conquerors quickly embraced a life of silks and palaces, or how the mighty Byzantine Romans had to deal with the fact that the desert Arabs were now their masters. History is full of amusing, if tragic ironies, because it is made by people - both great and small. Nestled also, often as bystanders to this clash of titans, are the Jews. Holland chronicles, often in small but profound anecdotes, how Judaism survives today, even as one "ite" after another disappeared into history. In closing, for me it was a revelatory reading. And I recommend it to all who wish to understand how the worlds gets from "there" to "here." I must warn, however, for whatever reason, Chapter 22 gave me fits. It is almost completely a chapter of profundity, which for me, took multiple rewinds to finally comprehend. And one final note to the narration. I know we had a revolution to free ourselves from our British rulers, but darn it, there is something about a history book being read by a Brit, that just makes it seem all-together more classy. Enjoy!

GREAT BOOK ON ISLAM ORIGIN

Libro muy interesante sobre los orígenes del Islam y de Mahoma en el contexto histórico de la edad antigua. Muy clara la explicación sobre las contradicciones del Corán y sobre los mitos sobre Mahoma

long but interesting

this book's author does a good job not revealing his religious biases, as he talks a bit condescendingly about all three monotheistic religions. judaism actually comes out smelling best, though not by much. he does tie together some fascinating conjectures and makes mountains out of the molehills of information he was able to find regarding the development of islam. he has made some very intersting points based on his original document research, in particular regarding whether mecca was always central, and the interesting inclusions in the quran from judaism, christianity, and zoroastrianism. this is one of the looongest audiobooks i've listened to. good luck!