Does history matter? This book argues not that history matters, but that Islamic history does. This Very Short Introduction introduces the story of Islamic history; the controversies surrounding its study; and the significance that it holds – for Muslims and for non-Muslims alike. Opening with a lucid overview of the rise and spread of Islam, from the seventh to the twenty-first century, the book charts the evolution of what was originally a small, localized community of believers into an international religion with over a billion adherents.”