The Decline of Eastern Christianity Under Islam: From Jihad to Dhimmitude: Seventh-Twentieth Century Paperback – September 1, 1996

Bat Ye’or’s book is a comprehensive and significant work, which examines a topic far too often ignored in histories of the Middle East, Islam and the crusades: the fate, status and experience of Christians and Jews living under Islamic rule from the 6th to the 19th centuries. It is based on a wealth of documentary evidence drawn from Arab, Turkish, Armenian, Latin, Greek and Balkan sources. It includes a discussion of the sources and includes a 23 page-long bibliography. It also analyzes the historiography to date and provides an appendix of documents supporting her principle theses, translated into English, which encompasses 175 pages of evidence.In short, this is an eminently well-researched and meticulously documented scholarly book rather than a polemical or popular work of history — which perhaps explains why it has not received the prominence it is due. Another factor contributing to the apparent neglect of this important work is that it depicts the fate and represents the views of the victims, who are now for the most part exterminated, forgotten and powerless, in contrast to narratives written from Arab/Islamic or Western European perspectives. I can’t help but wonder if the fact that Ms. Ye’or is an Egyptian, a woman, and a Jew (but not a professor) had not likewise contributed to her work being unjustly slighted by academics, without anyone undertaking a serious refutation of her basic findings.Ye’or notes that the most common terminology for describing Jews and Orthodox Christians in Islamic states is “protected minorities.” This very term, she argues, is misleading. The Orthodox Christians were throughout most of the 1,300 years covered in this book the majority population of the states in which they lived. Second, they were not ‘protected’ but rather gradually driven to near extinction. This book describes in great detail how that came about.Ye’or is careful to note the acquiesce and indeed collaboration of key elites in the conquered communities. In the beginning, “treaties” with the ravaging nomadic tribes from the Arabian Peninsula seemed merely like common sense and self-defense once the imperial powers of Byzantium and Persia became too weak to protect the local population. Paying “tribute” seemed like the lesser evil, to hopeless defiance.Ye’or likewise describes without apology the rivalries and hatred between the various Christian sects and their anti-Semitism, factors that enabled the Muslim conquerors to effectively play the groups off against one another. She makes no secret of the religious fanaticism of some Christian monks, which led to bitter hatreds and rivalries between various Orthodox churches. These, in turn, undermined the sense of solidarity among the Christian subjects of Islam.Ye’or is also quick— and nowhere more bitter — than in pointing out that it was above all the religious leadership that profited from the new situation. Christian and Jewish leaders alike became the representatives of their respective communities and were made responsible for collecting the tribute and paying their Arab masters. This gave them greater autonomy than under the former Byzantine regime, while also offering multiple opportunities to enrich themselves. Last but not least, Ye’or freely acknowledges and highlights the degree to which some elites — secretaries and translators, accountants and bankers, merchants and professionals — adapted to the new situation and, in exchange for collaboration, were allowed to prosper — at the expense of the vast majority of the co-religionists.Yet Ye’or musters overwhelming and almost numbing evidence that the vast majority of Christians and Jews living under Islamic regimes were subjected to frequent waves of violence punctuated by periods of oppression and humiliation. She describes how the repeated extortion of money, goods, livestock, and even children, reduced entire populations to such destitution that they abandoned their lands altogether and fled into the mountains to be hunted down like outlaws and wild beasts. She describes how the repeated raids by nomadic tribes turned entire regions into wastelands because no crop could be sown much less harvested. “The once-flourishing villages of the Negev had already disappeared by about 700, and by the end of the eighth century the population had deserted the greater part of the region stretching from south of Gaza to Hebron, fleeing back northwards, abandoning ruined churches and synagogues.” (102) This depopulation and desertification of once-flourishing and densely populated regions, described in full by both Muslim and Christian chroniclers, was the result of the massive deportation of captives — that is the enslavement of entire populations.No one with a serious interest in the Middle East should ignore this book. Indeed, it ought to be required reading in every university course on the topic of Islam, the crusades, and the Middle East. The fact that its conclusions are not politically correct is all the more reason to read and discuss this book seriously — albeit critically.

I have started reading up on the Bible not to long ago. I am an Atheist, although I do (also) consider myself a 'cultural-Christian', because I accept the fact that 2000 years of Christianity has shaped my part of the world (Europe) as no other. And ofcourse the Greek-Roman legacy, not to forget. Sinds the turn of the century I have also focused more closely on the Islam and its history. We Europeans have had a tremendous influx of islam in Europe in the past 35 years. About 50 milion muslims live on our side of the sea right now, and that number has been reached within this period of time. It is a staggering fact. Whole cities have changed and the European culture of reason and a certain amount of tolerance has been challenged. Reading Bat Ye'or's book 'Eurabia' triggerd a hunger for more information. She writes with a balance and depth which is truly impressive. The facts she has uncoverd are staggering. I am still in the proces of balancing out all that I have read, but up till now I must confess that my state of mind is in a 'ding-dong' fase. I thank Bat Ye'or for her enormous contribution in this field. The Islamic civilization has hidden some very nasty things of her history. I am glad somebody is finally looking into it.

I have read this book once before. I had loaned it out and never got it back, but i was glad because it was being passed around to many who wanted to know the truth about islam and it's history. I read this book again after I received it from here. It's very enlightening as to the true history of islam and their full intentions. I've also studied the quran, hadiths and suras. This book is truthful and a must read for any who must have truth and won't settle for anything less. It's a very important history book for us to read and understand what happened then which also gives an exact picture of what is going on in our world today. Same tactics, same tools, same lies used by islamic followers with same intentions to rule of the entire world not just one region of the world.

This book is an eye-opening read into history that I was never exposed to in grade school or even at university, which is shameful, if you ask me. I appreciate the author's use of an extensive bibliography to document everything she reveals. This was not an easy, quick read, but I could not put it down once I started. It is definitely worth investing in to become better informed about European and Islamic accounts of history. It saddens me that what is revealed in this book is being so blatantly ignored on such a large scale in academia and in the media. Any student of history or religion, or anyone who is just curious about the roots and causes of the divide between the West and the Middle East should definitely read this book. You will be better informed and have a balanced view of history. You owe it to yourself to know the truth about what went on (and has been tacitly hidden from you). It will open your eyes to the vast differences between East and West. All of the other positive reviews of this book are true....get it, read it!

This book is a well researched look at the attitudes of what is becoming one of he worlds most influential religons. In particular the attitudes and rules towards non muslims. It dispels the 1850s' myths of tollerant islam and shows the events leading up to the European self defence expiditions called the Crusades. Bat Ye'or is the worlds foremost authority on what is regarded as a taboo subject, namely that non western societys are not just capable of aggression and attrocitys, but can enshrins them in political and religious doctrine. Read in conjunction with "Sharia for non muslims" and "The Third Choice, islam, dhimmitude and Freedom" by Mark Durie this book paints a concise picture of exactly what the Crusaders were fighting, and why we need to understand this.

A well informed and thorough introduction to the history of dhimmitude under islam and a very good colletion of primary sources, that illustrate the same history. Ye'or writes with great academic authority about a subject often consciously neglected by professional academics and scholars

This very courageous book describes in considerable detail the condition of non-Muslims living under Islamic rule, referring mainly to the plight of Jews and Christians and the painful decline of these communities due to alleged oppression and prejudice.I find this book very appropriate for our time and it goes a long way to revealing the true context behind the politicisation of racial prejudice, segregation, apartheid and indeed genocide which have become quite common-place in the Middle East with reference to the selective and erroneous use of these terms by Islamic entities against Israel in relation to the Palestinian issue.This book reveals how these claims lack any true substance and fall flat on their face when compared with the realities of 'dhimmitude', (which the writer describes as the status of conquered Jews & Christians under Islam), that reveal the painful, disturbing policy of prejudice, racial hatred and segregation of countless people who were classed as inferior on the basis of their religion alone.No actions here being taken as deterrents against the terrorism and violence of today's Mid-East. Just socially acceptable Islamic conduct against peoples who were classed as inferior.The book, drawing heavily on quotes from the Quran, the Hadith and writings from many renowned Islamic historians, reveals many distinctions drawn and prejudices applied upon Jews and Christians who refused to accept and bow to Islam. The veracity behind any profession of Islam as a tolerant and peaceful religion will soon reveal itself to the reader.One example revealed by the writer is that Islamic legislation does not even recognise any validity in the sworn oath of a 'dhimmi' against that of a Muslim. The principle being based on the Islamic belief in the 'perverse and mendacious' character of the Jewish/Christian 'infidel', which even extends into matters involving the frequent allegations of blasphemy directed against 'dhimmis' which were punishable by death !Other reviewers have commendably dealt with the wealth of detail and information here. Suffice to say that this book is highly recommended for anyone who wishes a further insight into the Islamic/Muslim mindset and much of the culture of the Middle East. It will send chills down the spines of readers when they consider that Islamic activists today still seek the 'Islamisation' of the West.

Abbok everyone needs to read