"In this Very Short Introduction, Adam J. Silverstein covers the rise and spread of Islam from the seventh to the twenty-first century, charting the evolution of what was originally a small, localised community of believers into an international religion with over a billion adherents. Silverstein analyzes the role that Islamic history plays in both religious and political contexts, looking at the controversies surrounding its study and the significance that it holds - for both Muslims and non-Muslims alike."--BOOK JACKET.