The March From Medina

A Revisionist Study of the Arab Conquests

by John W. Jandora

About the Book:

    This book focuses on the rapid transformation of the early Muslim armies. It deals with recruitment, leadership, and motives for war, and reveals the resourcefulness of the Muslim military establishment. The author explains many problems of source interpretations, discusses the reconciliation of conflicts in the source material, and contrasts popular and romantic notions about the conquests that obscure the process of war. Although the background of The March from Medina begins with the Arabs and the wars of Antiquity, the scope of the book focuses on the first stage of the Muslim conquest movement. Numerous maps accompany the text and two charts of battle array.

Chapters include:

The Arabs and the Wars of Antiquity

Islam and the Conquest of Arabia

Victories Beyond the Arabian Frontier

The Way to Empire

The Growth of a Legend

About the Author:

    John W. Jandora is an experienced Arabist in the Department of Defense. He received his Ph.D. from the University of Chicago and was an officer in the Marines during the Vietnam War. He worked with Arab troops during the course of several years' service on a U.S. military assistance program and has managed English-Arabic translation projects in Europe and Saudi Arabia.

Publication date: 1990

14 maps; appendices; bibliography; index

Size: 6 x 9 ½ (15.2 x 24.1); vi, 155 pages

L.C. 89-84520

ISBN 978-0-940670-33X (paperbound)  $29.95  Buy it at Amazon.com!