Summarize the reasoning by Raymond Ibrahim that Europe was saved from Islam. (1 point)
• Four other important seats of Christianity were under Islamic control.
• Defeats of Muslims in 700s barred Islam from getting into Europe.
• The seat of Orthodox Christianity moved to Russia.
• The cannon stopped the Muslim forces from coming into Europe.
Raymond Ibrahim argues that Europe was saved from Islam due to several reasons. Firstly, he points out that four significant Christian centers were already under Islamic control, which prevented further Islamic penetration into Europe. Additionally, defeats suffered by Muslims in the 700s acted as a barrier to Islam's expansion into Europe. Furthermore, the seat of Orthodox Christianity was moved to Russia, which also contributed to Europe being spared from Islamic influence. Finally, the development of the cannon technology proved instrumental in stopping Muslim forces from invading Europe.
Raymond Ibrahim argues that Europe was saved from Islam due to several reasons. Firstly, he points out that four other important seats of Christianity were already under Islamic control, diverting the attention of Muslim forces away from Europe. Secondly, the defeats of Muslims in the 700s acted as a barrier, preventing Islam from spreading into Europe during that time. Additionally, Ibrahim explains that the seat of Orthodox Christianity shifted to Russia, which further contributed to the protection of Europe from Islamic incursions. Lastly, he highlights the significance of the cannon, which played a crucial role in stopping the advancement of Muslim forces into Europe.
According to Raymond Ibrahim, there are several factors that contributed to Europe being saved from Islam:
1. Four other important seats of Christianity were under Islamic control: Ibrahim posits that the Islamic conquests in the 7th and 8th centuries targeted major Christian cities such as Jerusalem, Alexandria, Antioch, and Constantinople. These conquests diverted Islamic attention and resources away from Western Europe, allowing it to develop and resist further expansion.
2. Defeats of Muslims in the 700s: Ibrahim suggests that several defeats suffered by the Muslim forces in the 8th century acted as barriers that prevented Islam from further penetrating into Europe. For example, the Battle of Tours in 732 led by Charles Martel halted the Muslim advance into France.
3. The seat of Orthodox Christianity moved to Russia: The fall of Constantinople to the Ottoman Empire in 1453 resulted in the Orthodox Christian leadership shifting to Russia. According to Ibrahim, this move created a geographic buffer zone between the Islamic East and Western Europe, further protecting Europe from Islamic expansion.
4. The development of cannons: Ibrahim argues that the development and use of cannons by European powers during the Renaissance played a significant role in preventing Muslim forces from advancing into Europe. The cannons provided a technological advantage that enabled Europeans to repel Islamic armies and maintain their defense.
It's important to note that these points reflect Ibrahim's perspective, and not all scholars may necessarily agree with his analysis. However, these reasons provide a framework for understanding how Europe managed to resist the expansion of Islam during its formative years.