a brief note on the role of Africans in the early Islamic expansion
an African kingdom in southern Italy.
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=================================================================== ### an African kingdom in southern Italy. ( Aug 19, 2023 14 The early period of Islamic expansion resulted in the creation of what was until then the largest empire in human history. In less than a century, the Rashidun caliphate and the suceeding Umayyad caliphate created a large empire that stretched from Spain to Central Asia, covering a vast territory from the Atlantic Ocean to the borders of China. Yet despite their rapid success, the Islamic advance was halted in ( and Ethiopia where their armies suffered rare defeats and were forced to withdraw. A similar advance into west Africa through the oases of the Fezzan and ( was equally unsuccessful as local polities remained largely in control of the region. Overextended and outnumbered, the Ummayad Arabs begun recruiting north-African Berbers to bolster their scattered armies. The addition of both free and enslaved Berber soldiers in the Ummayad forces proved decisive in the conquest and control of the empire's most distant provinces, especially in Spain. As the pace of expansion begun to decline in the 8th and 9th century, more soldiers were recruited from outlying regions like west-Africa and Europe. With these armies, the Ummayads and their sucessors expanded their campaigns into southern Europe, beginning with the islands of Crete and Sicily, and eventually making landfall on southern Italy. The Muslim kingdom in southern Italy was the furthest expansion of the early Islamic empires in mainland Europe outside Spain. In the 9th century, Italy was home to the only independent Muslim state in Europe that was ruled not by Arabs but by the contigents of Berbers and west-Africans whom they had recruited. The kingdom of Bari is the subject of my latest Patreon article, exploring the history of this African kingdom in Italy, and its complex relationship with the neighboring Christian states.
### The Role of Africans in the Early Islamic Expansion

1. **Overview of Islamic Expansion**: 
   - The early Islamic expansion occurred during the 7th and 8th centuries, leading to the establishment of the largest empire in history at that time. 
   - The Rashidun (632-661 CE) and Umayyad (661-750 CE) caliphates rapidly expanded their territory from Spain to Central Asia.

2. **Geographical Reach**:
   - The Islamic Empire stretched from the Atlantic Ocean to the borders of China. 
   - Key regions included the Iberian Peninsula and parts of North Africa.

3. **Challenges to Expansion**:
   - The Islamic military campaigns faced significant setbacks in Ethiopia and the western regions of Africa.
   - Despite these efforts, local polities maintained control, and the Islamic forces were unable to establish dominance.

4. **Recruitment of North African Berbers**:
   - In response to challenges, the Umayyad caliphate began to recruit Berber soldiers from North Africa.
   - Both free and enslaved Berbers became integral to the Islamic military and contributed to securing remote provinces, particularly in Spain.

5. **Further Recruitment and Expansion**:
   - As the pace of expansion slowed during the 8th and 9th centuries, the Umayyads recruited soldiers from additional regions, including West Africa and Europe.
   - These forces initiated campaigns into Southern Europe, targeting islands such as Crete and Sicily, and eventually Southern Italy.

6. **Establishment of Muslim Control in Italy**:
   - The Muslim kingdom in Southern Italy marked the furthest reach of early Islamic empires into mainland Europe outside of Spain.
   - By the 9th century, Southern Italy hosted the only independent Muslim state in Europe, governed not by Arabs but by Berber and West African contingents.

7. **The Kingdom of Bari**:
   - The kingdom of Bari emerged as a significant site of Islamic rule in Italy, exemplifying the complex dynamics between Muslim and Christian states during this period.
   - This kingdom illustrates the impact of African soldiers in shaping the political landscape in Europe during the early Islamic expansion.

8. **Conclusion**:
   - The involvement of Africans, particularly Berbers and West Africans, was crucial to the success of the Umayyad military campaigns and the establishment of Islamic presence in Europe.
   - The legacy of the kingdom of Bari reflects the multicultural aspects of the Islamic expansion and the significant role of African kingdoms in this historical narrative.