Rome began as humble city-state, within 800 years it had gained control over empire extending as west as Britain, south into North Africa, and east into Syria, Jordan, and Iraq.. ..…

Christianity was the dominant religion in those parts of Mediterranean that Arabs conquered — Syria, Palestine, Egypt, and North Africa from Roman Empire, and Spain from Visigoths. ..…

Within 800 years south into North Africa and east into Syria and Iraq.. ..…