To start with, some of the essentials about Islam:

The koran is the last revelation that God sent to humanity, considered the autentic word of
God and therefore immutable.
The Muslim must fight until the caliphate, comprising the whole world, is established. Until
then the world is divided into two parts:
Dar-al-Salam the zone of peace, where Islam dominates
Dar-al-Harb War Zone, Land of the Infidels,
Which is to be conquered
The struggle for the conquest of Dar-al-Harb is the jihad and muslims are ordained by
numerous verses of the koran to participate in this jihad.
As an example, some of these verses:
Sura 2 Al-Baqarah, verse 216

Sura
4 AnNissa,
verse
74

Sura
8 AlAnfal, verse 39

Sura
47

Muhammad, verse 35

The "works" began by Muhammad, the conquest of the Arabian peninsula, were
completed after the death of the prophet.
The following is a timeline of the Islamic war campaigns.
632
Death of Mohammed
635
A muslim army conquered Damascus, the capital of the Syrian ByzantineChristian kingdom.
The city and the countryside are being raided and burned, the inhabitants killed
or enslaved. The forced islamization begins immediately.
This means that non-muslims (kuffar) have to pay a tax (jizya) and are virtually
deprived of all rights and protection. Only those who collaborated (by
converting) will be spared.
636
Battle of Kadesia. Conquest of Mesopotamia, including the Sassanid capital of
Ctesifonte. Immediately following the violent victory generalized looting begins.
After the victory Caliph Umar ordered the burning of the Great Library of
Madain (comparable to the Library Alexandria) as a measure of forced
islamization. Later, motivated by fanaticism, muslims sought to destroy all
ancient writings wherever they found them.
637
A muslim army conquered Jerusalem, which was part of the Christian Byzantine
Empire.
The forced islamization begins immediately. Churches and synagogues are
looted or destroyed, the male population is killed, women and children raped
and / or enslaved. Some of the priests are crucified.
640
Conquest, plunder and arson attack of Cairo. Almost the entire male population
is massacred, women and children raped and enslaved. The old Cairo library on
fire. Forced islamization begins immediately.
642
A decisive battle near Hamadan (Ekbetana) against the Sassanid Empire. Much
of today's Iran falls into the hands of muslim conquerors. The beautiful
Ekbetana, presumably the oldest city in the world, is almost completely
destroyed. Irreplaceable art and cultural treasures lost. Immediately, extensive
barbaric actions, looting, enslavement, and forced islamization begin
immediately, not to be completed until only by the year 900.

642
A muslim army conquered and destroyed the Byzantine Christian Alexandria,
the capital of Christian Egypt. The city and country were under the fury of the
conquerors. Already in the early months some hundreds of thousands of
Christians were murdered, millions enslaved. In an unprecedented storm of fire
the conquerors destroyed not only the earliest Christian relicts, but also
everything that ancient Rome and Egypt had created. The Library of
Alexandria, jewel of the ancient world (restored after an accidental fire during
Roman expansion) was systematically and intentionally destroyed. Over 4000
years of written history, early science and poetry in flames.
645
A muslim army conquered the Christian Barka in North Africa (Libya).
Destroying the ancient Greco-Roman city completely. All inhabitants dragged
into slavery.
650
The last areas of the Kingdom of Armenia are invaded, looted and forcefully
islamized.
652
An attack by muslim pirates (Corsairs) on the island of Sicily is fought off. But
the coastal villages remain in ruins. Many people died or were enslaved.
667
New muslim pirate attacks (Corsairs) on the island of Sicily are tempted, but
are repelled. More and more coastal villages and churches being fortified.
However, often the villagers will be abducted again.
674
An attack by muslims against Constantinople (capital of the Christian Byzantine
Empire and seat of the Christian emperor) is repelled. At its withdrawal the
islamic army is sweeping the lands to the east of the Bosphorus, drags the
inhabitants to the slavery.
700
The Italian island of Pantelleria is conquered by muslims and its inhabitants
enslaved. The island is becoming a hideout of muslim pirates.
708
Sicily is conquered in the short term by the muslims but can be regained with
heavy losses and devastation.
708
The muslim campaign of the conquest of Christian North Africa reaches the
Atlantic coast.
In its advance all the cities and villages of the north of Africa were ransacked
and burned. More than 50% of the people of North Africa were massacred by
the end of the campaign. Millions are raped, tortured and enslaved.

710
With the conquest of the last Christian city in North Africa, the whole exChristian north of Africa is islamized. Almost all 400 Christian dioceses in North
Africa perished. North Africa was once a Christian world flourishing, land of
important theologians of the Christian antiquity.
711
Muslim armies cross the Strait of Gibraltar and invade Europe. The beginning of
the conquest of the Iberian Peninsula (now Spain and Portugal). The forced
islamization of the conquered territories begins immediately. Per capita taxes
are higher and corporal punishments harsher than anywhere else under the
iron claws of islam.
712
Islamic conquerors reach the borders of China and India. Behind them (as
contemporary chroniclers report) are vast territories consumed by flames. Soon
the Arabs also conducted the first incursions to Sindh. High flow of slaves reach
Middle Eastern slave markets.
712
The muslim conquest and forced islamization of southern Spain is almost
complete.
The slave markets of North Africa overflow with European slaves.
713
Muslims conquer and loot Barcelona, cross the Pyrenees and invade looting and
arsoning everywhere in the area of present-day southern France. About 90
years after Muhammad's death, and about 380 years before the beginning of
the Christian Crusades, muslim armies (and not only "muslim missionaries!")
are terrorizing the Christian kingdom of the Franks (now France).
717
Another muslim attack against Constantinople (capital of the Christian
Byzantine Empire and seat of the Christian Emperor) is repelled. One more time
at the withdrawal of these muslim hords, the lands east of the Bosphorus are
devastated, burned and the people abducted into slavery.
720
Muslims invade southern France, conquering Narbonne and besieging Toulouse.
The campaign of forced islamization is less thoroughful conducted, than looting
and the acquisition of slaves.
720
New attempt to land muslim troops in Sicily, where extensive fighting and
devastation takes place.
731
Looting islamic armies force their way across the border into southern France.
From Dijon to Sens, near the Loire, and Langres to Luxeuil, all of France south of
the Loire actually falls into their hands.

732
Sacking of the rich monastery town of Tours fails because of the defeat at the
Battle of Tours and Poitiers. However, muslim invaders loot and devastate the
land at their retreat. They still manage to abduct thousands of prisoners as
slaves.
735
Muslims attack again in the south of France, with strong armies. Although they
cannot conquer the chosen cities and territories, all the inhabitants, who fall
into their hands, are enslaved, in addition women and children raped.
751
In the Battle of Talas, a muslim Arab army defeated for the first time a Chinese
army.
810
Islamic troops occupy Corsica and use it from now on as a base for attacks on
the southern coast of France.
831
Muslim troops conquer and sack the Sicilian city of Palermo.
832
Muslim units assault and pillage Marseilles, where large numbers of slaves and
goods are seized.
835
From Sicily the Muslims pass over to the mainland and devastate Calabria.
838
Islamic troops invaded the south of France and the Rhne valley again to
plunder.
840 to 847
Benevento, which is under French protection, is occupied by the islamic
invaders.
841
After a short siege, Capua is completely destroyed and looted.
841
Brindisi falls into the hands of muslim marauders after heavy fighting.
843
Muslim troops conquer, sack and burn down the Sicilian city of Messina.
843
Attempts of an Arab conquest of Rome failed.
The city and the region are looted and burned, the survivors of the population
enslaved.

846
Other attempts of Arab conquests of Rome fail.
The city and region are ransacked and burned, whom they manage to capture,
enslaved.
848
In August 848, the city of Ragusa in Sicily is sacked and destroyed by the
Arabs, despite the fact that the inhabitants made peace with them and handed
them over the city (according to Ibn al-Athir).
848
Muslim units assault and pillage Marseille, the region is devastated. Hostages
and slaves are taken away.
849
Attempts of Arab conquest of Rome failed.
The city and the region are looted and burned, the survivors of the population
enslaved.
851 to 852
Another time Benvento is occupied by the muslims for a short period.
The occupiers commit atrocities against the population.
856
Arab invaders attack and destroy the Cathedral of Canossa, in Apulia. The city
is sacked and slaves are taken.
859
Muslim troops invade and loot again in southern France.
888
Finally the Arabs conquer the city of Ragusa in Sicily.
870
Arabs conquer the island of Malta and destroy the Christian culture that existed
permanently during almost 700 years.
878
Muslim hords conquer, sack and burn the Sicilian city of Siracusa.
880
Muslim troops conquer and plunder Nice.
882
Muslim invaders build a base at the river mouth of the Garigliano between
Naples and Rome, from where they attack Campania and also Sabinia in Lazio.
888
Muslim troops build a new bridgehead in Fraxinetum of Provence, who
surrendered to the Spanish Moors. From there, they undertake looting sprees in
the west of Arles (capital of the kingdom of Burgundy) and along the Rhone to
Avignon, Vienne (near Lyon) and Grenoble.

902
Muslim hords conquer, loot and burn down the Sicilian city of Taormina.
911
The bishop of Narbonne is not able to travel from France to Rome because of
muslim occupied mountain passages. Robberies, slavery and looting are
rampant.
918
Coming from Sicily, muslim troops conquer and plunder Reggio Calabria,
located on the adjacent continent.
920
Muslims from Spain cross the Pyrenees, devastating Gascony at will,
threatening Toulouse.
934
Genoa and La Spezia are attacked, looted and burned by muslims.
935
Genoa and La Spezia are again attacked, looted and burned by muslims.
939
Muslim hordes advance in the north via Geneva to the mountain passes in the
Swiss Alps. The city is plundered and slaves abducted.
942
Muslim troops march scorching and murdering, cross the southeast of France to
northern Italy.
942
Nice is attacked, robbed and burned by muslims.
952 to 960
From the Alpine mountain passages muslim troops conquered Switzerland
during almost eight years.
They sack and destroy in the following years, the Valais, Graubnden and parts
of eastern Switzerland. Between 952 and 960 after the Battle of the Orb the
Arabs continued to dominate much of southern and western Switzerland,
including the Great St. Bernard, and advanced northeast to St. Gallen and in
the southeast to Pontresina.
942 to 965
Muslim troops conquer the duchy of Savoy.
906 to 972
Muslim troops conquer Provence.
964
From Sicily muslim troops conquer and pillage Rometta, situated on the
mainland.

979 to 988
Sebk TEGIN declares the sacred war (Jihad) against the Hindu-Shah, whose
king Djaypal (965-1001) defeated him 979 and 988. All fortifications within
Afghanistan to the border with India fall into the hands of his muslim troops.
1002
Bari is again conquered and destroyed by the Arabs.
1002
Genoa is conquered and plundered by the Arabs.
1004
Pisa was conquered and plundered by the Arabs
1009
Caliph Al-Hakim ordered the systematic destruction of all Christian shrines in
Jerusalem. In addition, the church of the Holy Sepulcher (including the Holy
Sepulcher) is destroyed.
1070
The Seljuk Turks, a nomadic tribe from Central Asia, who had converted to
islam in the 10th Century AD, gained control of Jerusalem. The peaceful
pilgrimage to the holy places of Christians is more and more impeded. Attacks
on pilgrims, who are murdered and dragged into slavery.
1071
In the Battle of Manzikert a Christian Byzantine army is destroyed by a muslim
army. Seljuk Turkish muslims conquer the heart of the Byzantine Christian
Empire: Asia Minor.
1099
After almost 470 years of military aggression and expansion of islam, as a
reaction against these Islamic aggressions, Pope Urban II managed to unite the
Europeans to comence the Christian Crusades.
Imperialist ideas appear only from the 18th century onwards in Europe. The
focus of the Crusades is merely, at least in the majority, religious and
defensive.