For many readers, the history and practices of Islam remain a mystery. This latest Great Dates volume is an enlightening chronological survey of the key events in the history of one of the world's most influential religions. In a readable yet detailed fashion, this volume chronicles the development of Islam from its origins in the Arabian peninsula through its spread across three continents and its eventual retreat in Europe, finally exploring the place Islam occupies in the world today.

As in the other two volumes comprising this series, designed to give a compact history of a major world movement or power, each chapter begins with an overview of the period covered. Events are subsequently divided into categories by region within the Islamic world: From the Maghrib to the Near East, from Turkey, Iran and Afghanistan to India and Indonesia, this chronology covers economy and society foreign affairs, culture and the arts, religious life, institutions and political trends.

Chapters also include charts, maps and fact boxes where appropriate. A thorough index enables readers to locate events without knowing the dates on which they occurred.