History of the Moorish Empire, Vol. 2 of 3: In Europe (Classic Reprint)

Excerpt from History of the Moorish Empire, Vol. 2 of 3: In Europe

Classic Souvenirs of Sicily - Its Great Natural Advantages - It becomes the Stronghold of the Papacy - Invasion of the Arabs - They besiege Syracuse - Strength of that City - Failure of the Enterprise - Capture of Palermo - Rapid Progress of the Moslems - Condition of Italy - Arab Alliance with Naples - Messina taken - Betrayal of Castrogiovanni - Rout of the Greeks near Syracuse - Feuds of the Conquerors - Their Successes in Italy - Second Siege of Syracuse - The City is stormed and destroyed by Ibn-Mohammed - Peril of Rome - Appearance of the Normans in the South of Europe - They invade Sicily - Siege of Palermo - Subjection of the Island - Influence of the Moslems over their Conquerors - General Condition of Sicily - Its Civilization - Palermo and its Environs Science, Art, and Literature - The Great Work of Edrisi - Arab Occupation of Sardinia, Crete, Corsica, and Malta.

The island of Sicily, by reason of its geographical position, its extraordinary fertility, and its commercial advantages, was one of the most renowned and coveted domains of the ancient world. Its situation, near the centre of the Mediterranean, afforded rare facilities for participation in the trade and enjoyment of the culture of those polished nations whose shores were washed by that famous sea.

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