Реферат: Islamic Conquests Up To 700 Ad

political effects.? The Byzantines

needed time to recover administrative control over its peoples, as well as time

to recover the economic and military resources that were so depleted during the

Persian wars.Again the lack of evidence makes

it difficult for us to ascertain the precise reasons for Byzantine military

failure, but the apparently large number of Arabs in the Byzantine army shows

us of the recruitment problem.? The

surprise element of the Muslim conquests exemplifies certain Byzantine

weaknesses.? The Byzantines lacked the

intelligence gathering sources to recognise the threat from the Muslims and as

a result had to fight on the Muslim?s terms. In previous wars the Byzantines

used attritional methods to defeat their enemies, but as the disastrous defeat

at Yarmuk suggests the significant early conflicts were large battles.? The Byzantine defences, in relation to the

Arabian desert, were clearly inadequate.?

Much responsibility for the maintenance of city walls was given to city

dwellers, perhaps symptomatic of a lack of imperial control. Residents of the

frontier cities were only too keen to make peace with the Muslims.? It is debatable whether this was due to

cultural and religious differences with the imperial authorities, or to a

rational and pragmatic belief that Muslim rule was the most advantageous way

forward.? Some historians suggest that

the defence in depth policy that necessitated the self-protection of cities

played into the hands of the Muslims.?

The strategy of leaving the elite and mobile forces behind the frontier

was tantamount to letting the Muslims invade the border-lands.? However, it can also be argued that this

policy was also the saviour of the empire.?

These mobile forces were able to restrict the Muslims behind the

Anatolian plateau and thus protect Constantinople. Again the viability of this

argument is largely irrelevant.? The

Roman Empire lacked the resources; the strategy and the military might to