Pocket Timeline of Islamic Civilizations

An illustrated guide to the major dynasties and culture of the Islamic world, from the birth of Muhammad in 6th-century Arabia to the early 20th century when the Ottoman Empire was finally divided up. Author Nicholas Badcott, Arab World Education Officer at the British Museum, gives clear explanation of the founding of the Muslim religion, the Quran and the five pillars of duty. He outlines the divisions that resulted in the split between Sunni and Shia Muslims and traces the spread of Islam across Central Asia, to India, North Africa, and into Europe. Many of the photographs are of objects in the BM’s collection, but pictures also include Islamic buildings such as the Great Mosque in Cordoba, Spain, Suleiman’s Mosque in Istanbul and the Taj Mahal in Agra, India. The book traces the different dynasties from the Umayyads in 8th-century Syria to the Mughals who ruled over what is now Pakistan and India for over 300 years. A 12-page fold-out timeline summarizes the text and pictures, making this a useful guide to complement a museum visit or as a background to understanding the Islamic faith. The text is adult in approach and style but younger readers could extract much information from the photos.