The rise and decline of the Arabian empire is one of the most spectacular episodes in history. Within the decade following mohammed’s flight from mecca to medina in 622 a.d., the scattered and disunited tribes of the Arabian peninsula were consolidated by a strong religious fervor into a powerful nation. Within a century, force of arms had extended the moslem rule and influence over a territory reaching from india, through Persia, Mesopotamia, and northern Africa, clear into spain. Opposing contenders for the cantenders for the caliphate caused an east-west split in the empire in 755, resulting in one caliph reigning in bagdad and another in cordoba. Until about the year 1000, the eastern empire enjoyed spiritual supremacy. At that time, however, much of the eastern territory became overrun by the ruthless Seljuk turks. Between 1100 and 1300, the Christian crusades were launched to dislodge the moslems from the holy land. In 1258, bagad was taken by the Mongols. The eastern caliph fell from power, and the Arabian empire began to decline. In the 1400’s, spain overthrew the last of its Moorish rulers, and the arabs lost their European foothold.