Ve stínu meče - Zápas o celosvětovou říši a konec starého světa – Holland Tom (2015)

In the sixth century AD, the Middle East was divided into two power centers, Persia and Byzantium. However, just a hundred years later, a new superpower emerged – the Arab Empire. Its rapid rise essentially marked the end of the ancient world. The changes that occurred during this chaotic time were not only geopolitical; they indicated a fundamental transformation of human society. This transformation would have unpredictable consequences not only for the present but also for the near and distant future. This was explored by the acclaimed author Tom Holland in his new book, where he delves into the history of the Middle East and Palestine, the roots of not only European civilization but also Christianity, Islam, and Judaism. What role did these three major world religions play in the struggle for global dominance? What place did emperors, shahs, and caliphs occupy in the power disputes of the time when establishing great empires? Why do the Bible and the Quran take the form we know today, and how did this influence the creation of laws, architecture, the course of battles, or dental hygiene? Tom Holland presents here a gripping and dramatic story of the rise of the Arab Empire with all its impacts on the Western world.