Topography of Arabia--Its History--Influence of Other Nations--Ancient Civilization--Commerce--Persistence of Customs and Language--Character of the Bedouin--His Independence--His Predatory Instincts--Power of Tribal Connection--War the Normal Condition of Existence in the Desert--The Virtues and Vices of the Arabs--Blood-Revenge and its Destructive Consequences--Absence of Caste--Condition of Woman--Marriage--Religion--Astral Worship--Idolatry--Phallicism--Human Sacrifices--Importance and Power of the Jews--Christianity in Arabia--Poetry, its Subjects and Character--The Moallakat--Popularity of the Arab Poet--His License--Influence of Arabic Civilization and Culture on Subsequent Ages 1 CHAPTER II THE RISE, PROGRESS, AND INFLUENCE OF ISLAM Comparative Religion, its Interest as a Study--The Benefits of Islam--Arabia at the Birth of Mohammed--Condition of Christendom and the Byzantine Empire--Popular Idea of the Prophet--His Family--His Early Life--The First Revelation--Persecution of the New Sect--The Hegira--Growing Prosperity of Islam--Character of Mohammed--Causes of His Success--Polygamy--The Koran--Its Arrangement, its Legends, its Sublime Maxims, its Absurdities--Its Obligations to other Creeds--The Kiblah--The Pilgrimage and its Ceremonies--Reforms accomplished by Islam--Universal Worship of Force--Corruption of the Religion of Mohammed--Its Wonderful Achievements--Mohammed the Apostle of God 57 CHAPTER III THE CONQUEST OF AL-MAGHREB General Disorder following the Death of Mohammed--Regulations of Islam--Progress of the Moslem Arms--Northern Africa, the Land of the Evening--Its Fertility--Its Population--Expedition of Abdallah--Defeat of the Greeks--Invasion of Okbah--Foundation of Kairoan--March of Hassan--Ancient Carthage--Its Influence on Europe--Its Splendid Civilization--Its Maritime Power, its Colonies, its Resources--Description of the City--Its Architectural Grandeur--Its Harbors, Temples, and Public Edifices--Roman Carthage--Its Luxury and Depravity--Its Destruction by the Moslems--Wars with the Berbers--Musa appointed General--His Romantic History--His Character--He subdues Al-Maghreb--Africa incapable of Permanent Civilization 128 CHAPTER IV. THE VISIGOTHIC MONARCHY