This book by Louis L. Snyder has short descriptions of twenty-five events that changed the world. The author observes “…a new direction in history can be brought about by a happening, a stage, or set of conditions, and occasionally by the action of a single individual. I was most interested in four of the events described because they give insight into the conflict between the Christian and Muslim religions. I recently completed a multi-part review of “The Looming Tower, Al-Qaeda and the Road to 9/11,” that includes discussion of the development of militant and terrorist Muslims under the leadership of people such as Osama bin Laden.

Crucifixion of Jesus — This is more about the growth of Christianity in during the years of decline of the Roman Empire than about the singular event of the crucifixion. The author observes, “The selection of the execution itself as a turning point is an arbitrary one—either the birth or resurrection of Jesus could be substituted as the focus of change.” What is important is that Jesus preached of a loving God, feasted with and forgave sinners, healed the sick, and denounced private wealth. His teachings, death, and resurrection resulted in a rapid spread of Christianity “…through the hollow shell of the once magnificent Roman state…” Christianity is a proselytizing religion that declares all other religions inadequate, and it swept through Western Europe, Persia, Armenia, Arabia, and to the Far East. Paganism is said to have been virtually eliminated in major cities by 400 A.D. Christian political organization in the form of bishops, deacons, and of course the hierarchy of the Catholic Church made Christianity the institution considered to control salvation and was also the ultimate political authority.

Flight of Muhammad from Mecca to Medina — Six hundred years after Jesus the Muslim religion arrived to challenge Christianity for dominance. Muhammad had revelations of voices speaking to him and heard himself being called “Messenger of Allah” by the Angel Gabriel. He began calling on people to worship one God, but had few converts for several years. He mostly only succeeded at infuriating Meccan merchants who wanted to eliminate him. He and Abu Bakr hid in a cave for three days until they could obtain camels and flee to Medina in what was later called the flight (the Hegira or Hija). He attracted an arm of believers in Medina and within eight years had taken Mecca. The Koran (Arabic Qur’an) or recitation, appeared shortly after Muhammad’s death and was compiled by Abu Bakr from communication by the Archangel Gabriel to Muhammad. The Islam religion spread to millions of converts. It rejected the Christian doctrine of the Trinity; Muslims believe Allah is the only God.

Battle of Tours — This battle in 732 A.D. was the first major defeat of the Muslims as they were attempting to march out of Spain and into Gaul. Muhammad had counseled his followers that “…to fight for religion is better than the world and everything in it.” The promise of martyrdom to Muslims if they died in jihad against unbelievers made them ferocious fighters, and they were accustomed to winning. Abu Bakr as caliph (successor) succeeded at bringing Syria, Egypt, Babylonia, Persia, and Spain under the rule of Islam. Vanquished peoples were either allowed to convert, pay tribute, or put to the sword. Many found it advantageous to embrace the faith, and the liberal treatment by the Muslims led many cities to welcome them. The Franks under Charles had a private army and a poorly trained militia. At least 80,000 Muslims, most of them mounted, were arrayed against Charles under Abderraham, but they had the disadvantage that they were burdened with enormous amounts of plunder from their previous victories. The Muslims mounted several cavalry charges against the phalanx formed by Charles, and they failed. Abderraham was killed in the fighting. A rumor spread that Charles had sent forces to steal from their camp, and they broke off the battle to defend their plunder. The Muslim invasion of Western Europe ended, and they retired to Spain to consolidate their already huge empire.

Crusades: The Speech of Urban II — The crusades were a serious of religious campaigns by the Christians of Western Europe from 1096 to 1291. They began after Pope Urban II gave a speech advocating that the Holy Land be recovered from the Muslims. Thousands would strike out with fanatical enthusiasm with little thought of how they would get to the Holy Land or what they would do to combat a powerful enemy once they got there. The most ghastly tragedy was the Children’s Crusade, which involved 50,000 children marching off to be either killed or taken into slavery. On 1291 the last Christian post in the Holy Land was stormed by Sultan Kelaun, and the defenders who weren’t massacred were sold into slavery, thus ending the Crusades. Oddly it is advocated that the Crusades resulted in a positive economic effect. Crusaders who survived to return home brought Oriental goods, and there would be fortunes made in meeting European demand for more goods. Also, feudal lords often freed their serfs before they marched off to often die in the Holy Land. The ones who survived brought back amazing stories of the magnificent cities and progress in art, science, and philosophy in the Muslim lands. Considerable knowledge was transferred to the West. However, the negatives should not be overlooked. Osama bin Laden called the allied soldiers who were in the two invasions of Iraq and the invasion of Afghanistan Crusaders as he taught young Arabs they had a duty of jihad against America.