Muslim Expansion and Byzantine Collapse in North Africa [Hardcover]

This book investigates the failure of the Byzantine Empire to develop successful resistance to the Muslim conquest of North Africa.Who 'lost' Christian North Africa? Who won and how? Walter Kaegi takes a fresh look at these perennial questions, with maps and on-site observations, in this exciting new book. An impartial comparative framework helps to sort through identity politics, 'Orientalism' charges and counter-charges, and institutional controversies.Who 'lost' Christian North Africa? Who won and how? Walter Kaegi takes a fresh look at these perennial questions, with maps and on-site observations, in this exciting new book. An impartial comparative framework helps to sort through identity politics, 'Orientalism' charges and counter-charges, and institutional controversies.Who lost' Christian North Africa? Who won it and how? Walter Kaegi takes a fresh look at these perennial questions, with maps and on-site observations, in this exciting new book. Persisting clouds of suspicion and blame overshadowed many Byzantine attempts to defend North Africa, as Byzantines failed to meet the multiple challenges from different directions which ultimately overwhelmed them. While the Muslims forcefully and permanently turned Byzantine internal dynastic and religious problems and military unrest to their advantage, they brought their own strengths to a dynamic process that would take a long time to complete  the transformation of North Africa. An impartial comparative framework helps to sort through identity politics, Orientalism' charges and counter-charges, and institutional controversies; this book also includes a new study of the decisive battle of Sbeitla in 647, helping readers to understand what befell Byzantium, and indeed empires from Rome to the present.1. Challenges of the subject and the sources; 2. Historiographical hurdles; 3. Fragmented geographical and logistical realities; 4. Christian contexts in seventh-century North Africa; 5. The military heritage of Herlsp