History glossary
Islam
the monotheistic religion preached by Muhammad in seventh-century Arabia.
- Category
- Religion
- Region
- Global
- Date range
- 7th century CE-present
What it means
Islam is the monotheistic religion preached by Muhammad in seventh-century Arabia, centred on worship of one God, revelation, prayer, charity, moral accountability and community.
Stories using this term
The Rise of Islam
From Muhammad's first revelations to the early caliphates, Islam grew from a Meccan message into a civilisation spanning Africa, Asia and Europe.
The Byzantine Empire
From Constantine's new capital to the fall of Constantinople, Byzantium preserved Roman law, Orthodox Christianity, imperial government and classical learning through more than a thousand years of adaptation.
The Age of Exploration
An era of exploration and empire linking continents through trade, conquest, and cultural exchange.
The Cold War
Rivalry between East and West shapes global politics - through proxy wars, propaganda, and nuclear tension.
The Scientific Revolution
The Scientific Revolution transformed how humans understand the world, replacing tradition with observation, experimentation and mathematical laws that still shape modern science.
Kievan Rus
The founding of the Rus’ state in the north.
The Norman Conquest of England
From Viking settlers to conquerors, the Normans reshaped England, Italy, and the medieval Mediterranean.
The Rise and Fall of Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia fractured through crisis, nationalism, and war, collapsing violently in the 1990s.
