About the book: 2006 / Historians Dominic and Janine Sourdel identify a classical period in Islamic civilization, starting in 622 - from the time of the preaching of Muhammad and ending XIII century, the era of the collapse of the great Islamic empire, which once stretched from Spain to India from west to east and from black Africa to the Black and Caspian seas from south to north. This great empire is considered by the authors of the book, firstly, in its political, religious-social, economic and cultural aspects, secondly, in the aspect of its internal unity and diversity and, thirdly, as a deeply unique civilization, opposed to the civilization of the West, but connected with it by a general historical and cultural context. The book is intended for specialists and a wide range of readers.