What caused the end of the classical world? Was it a decline from within, barbarian tribes from without, or as many Enlightenment thinkers proposed, the influence of Christians? Emmet Scott argues that the classical world in the West continued right up to the beginning of the seventh century; with architectural achievements, high literacy rates, and Roman and classical modes of living. Then abruptly at the beginning of the seventh century and continuing for the next three hundred years; building stopped, fertile ground around the Mediterranean was abandoned, people moved to hill top villages and castles, and the availability of papyrus was no more. What accounts for this abrupt "dark age" in the history of the West?
In his fascinating book Mohammed & Charlemagne Revisited, Scott argues that the cause of this abrupt decline was Mohammed and the rise of Islam. The perpetual and total war instituted by Islamic theology, including the Muslim pirates and slavers in the Mediterranean, brought classical civilization to a halt and inaugurated the Medieval world. Scott marshals evidence from archaeology and other historic disciplines to update and give strength to the thesis of Henri Pirenne in his book also titled Mohammed & Charlemagne. Filled with historical insight, almost every page has something to teach and his conclusion, which I won't reveal, will keep you thinking for a while. Highly recommended.
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