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Since I recently posted about the possibility of interesting historical discussions not centered on hatred of dead Protestants, I thought I'd start one: what if Mohammad were never born, and Islam never existed? I'm aware that there's at least one book discussing this hypothetical (seen it at the library, will probably check it out next time), but the repercussions of that little change would be so huge and far-reaching that I thought I'd ask here.
My guesses:
The Arabs might have unified later, but I'm guessing they would have spent decades fighting each other, then emerged from the peninsula in dribs and drabs under this warlord or that. Byzantium and/or Persia would have played these factions off against each other, and various groups would have converted to Christianity or (maybe?) Zoroastrianism.
Byzantium would have been much stronger. They would be tired, but elated by their crushing defeat of Persia under Heraclius, and Iconoclasm, if it happened at all, would be a much weaker movement. Emperors after Heraclius would have consolidated their frontier, then returned their attention to regaining control over traditional Roman lands. This of course would inevitably spell conflict with Western Europe.
Persia would be slow to recover, but would eventually regain its strength. When the Turks appeared, it's anyone's guess whether they would align themselves more with Persia or Byzantium. I'm going to guess Byzantium, just because Persia would be directly in their way, and weaker-looking. So, problems for Persia there. And then, of course, they would bear the brunt of the Mongols when they arrived. But it seems entirely possible that Zoroastrian Persia would still be a recognizable part of the map today.
I have no clue what Spain would look like. Except "different." There'd be no Pakistan, presumptively, and no Sikhs, I guess. Not sure what would have happened WRT the arts and sciences, except we wouldn't have words like "algebra" and "alchemy."
Western Europe would quickly get into the thick of things with Byzantium, as noted, and it would be ugly. Especially since I imagine the Turks would be superficially Christianized, then invited to "settle" in the West. But the West would likely win in the end. There's no way all the umpteen Turkic groups, plus Tamerlane, could be turned into friends, and the same overabundance of heavy armor that impelled the Crusades could have been directed into conquest. There would still be a country called "Turkey," I think. It would just have a different religion.
I just picked this subject because it's of personal interest, but what do you think? I have no intention of paying attention to Ben on this, natch, and I'd like to ask others not to quote him here.
My guesses:
The Arabs might have unified later, but I'm guessing they would have spent decades fighting each other, then emerged from the peninsula in dribs and drabs under this warlord or that. Byzantium and/or Persia would have played these factions off against each other, and various groups would have converted to Christianity or (maybe?) Zoroastrianism.
Byzantium would have been much stronger. They would be tired, but elated by their crushing defeat of Persia under Heraclius, and Iconoclasm, if it happened at all, would be a much weaker movement. Emperors after Heraclius would have consolidated their frontier, then returned their attention to regaining control over traditional Roman lands. This of course would inevitably spell conflict with Western Europe.
Persia would be slow to recover, but would eventually regain its strength. When the Turks appeared, it's anyone's guess whether they would align themselves more with Persia or Byzantium. I'm going to guess Byzantium, just because Persia would be directly in their way, and weaker-looking. So, problems for Persia there. And then, of course, they would bear the brunt of the Mongols when they arrived. But it seems entirely possible that Zoroastrian Persia would still be a recognizable part of the map today.
I have no clue what Spain would look like. Except "different." There'd be no Pakistan, presumptively, and no Sikhs, I guess. Not sure what would have happened WRT the arts and sciences, except we wouldn't have words like "algebra" and "alchemy."
Western Europe would quickly get into the thick of things with Byzantium, as noted, and it would be ugly. Especially since I imagine the Turks would be superficially Christianized, then invited to "settle" in the West. But the West would likely win in the end. There's no way all the umpteen Turkic groups, plus Tamerlane, could be turned into friends, and the same overabundance of heavy armor that impelled the Crusades could have been directed into conquest. There would still be a country called "Turkey," I think. It would just have a different religion.
I just picked this subject because it's of personal interest, but what do you think? I have no intention of paying attention to Ben on this, natch, and I'd like to ask others not to quote him here.
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