Do you think the Battle of Tours was a history shaping event that confirmed Euro autonomy from the east or do you think Muslim expansion had reached it's natural limit?
The battle is often cited as the event that 'saved Europe from Islam' by some historians while others downplay it as a strictly European event without much significance to the whole east-west thing. The latter group contends that Muslim expansion into Europe was at it's natural limit having been so far removed from it's bases of power. The same group argues that despite the Battle lose the east still was in the lead and power would have shifted west regardless due to the other issues that destroyed the Muslim world. Finally the fate of Muslim Spain is held up as an example of the ineffectiveness of longterm Muslim rule deep into Christian land.
It's a good argument I will have to really mull over sometime. What do you guys think?
Did the Frenchies save Christianity in Europe or did the Muslims just not have what it took to eat all of Europe?
The battle is often cited as the event that 'saved Europe from Islam' by some historians while others downplay it as a strictly European event without much significance to the whole east-west thing. The latter group contends that Muslim expansion into Europe was at it's natural limit having been so far removed from it's bases of power. The same group argues that despite the Battle lose the east still was in the lead and power would have shifted west regardless due to the other issues that destroyed the Muslim world. Finally the fate of Muslim Spain is held up as an example of the ineffectiveness of longterm Muslim rule deep into Christian land.
It's a good argument I will have to really mull over sometime. What do you guys think?
Did the Frenchies save Christianity in Europe or did the Muslims just not have what it took to eat all of Europe?
Last edited by Macbeth (2011-10-05 11:55:54)
