The word Islam means "Peace", but for nearly 1400 years its adherents have waged war - frequently on the grandest and most successful scale in history. This title introduces some of man's greatest military figures and analyses some of the most important events shaping the modern world, events largely unknown to the modern reader. Nafziger and Walton detail the rich and diverse military histories of dozens of empires, nations, clans and peoples. They make a special effort to outline the military history of the Quran and to show how Islamic theology justifies military effort. Militant Islamists viewed the events of September 11th 2001 as merely one more step in a military campaign against the West and the United States, part of an epic struggle with a long history. Major events in this ongoing war include the great Arab conquests in the Middle East and the Iberian Peninsula, the Crusades, Muslim India, the Seljuq and Ottoman Empires, naval warfare, colonialism and the many military actions of modern Muslim states.
With considerable discussion of the military aspects of terrorism, this overview should provide the reader with background information and analysis of parts of the world that are likely to continue as a battleground for years to come.