DBWI: Cult of Allah Conquers Persia and Byzantium

What if the Cult of Allah, in Arabia had managed to take the war out of Arabia, and conquer the large parts of Iran, Syria, Africa and Spain? Instead of being destroyed after the Battle of Tabouk
 
The spread of Christianity would have been stopped in the region. Zoroastrianism would have disappeared. Maybe if this "Cult of Allah" as it's called were to survive, it would have spread into Europe, eventually phasing out Christianity.
 
This is completely ASB. The Cult of Allah was a bunch of Arab tribes. I doubt they'd be able to unite Arabia, let alone the entire Middle East. Besides, what chance would they have against both the Persians and the Romans?
 
This is completely ASB. The Cult of Allah was a bunch of Arab tribes. I doubt they'd be able to unite Arabia, let alone the entire Middle East. Besides, what chance would they have against both the Persians and the Romans?

i don't know, all of history was ASB, and plus, the Byzantines and Persians had just fought an exhausting and destructive war, coupled with the Cult's religious zeal, and the discontent by the peasants with their rulers, and their religion, they could achieve the impossible
 

Wolfpaw

Banned
What if the Cult of Allah, in Arabia had managed to take the war out of Arabia, and conquer the large parts of Iran, Syria, Africa and Spain? Instead of being destroyed after the Battle of Tabouk

Are you freaking kidding me? I mean, Mesopotamia, maybe. But Syria? Africa? Spain? Like a bunch of tribal cultists could take Syria from the Romans. Do you have any idea how strong Damascus' defenses were? And Spain? Get real, man. If the Mohammedans could even get through Egypt (ASBs anybody?) I hardly think they would be able to get past Carthage.

I'm sorry if I sound mean, but sometimes it really irritates me when people don't put ridiculous WIs like this where they belong; in the ASB forum.
 
What if the Cult of Allah, in Arabia had managed to take the war out of Arabia, and conquer the large parts of Iran, Syria, Africa and Spain? Instead of being destroyed after the Battle of Tabouk


I've heard this put forth as a POD for the collapse of the Roman(OTL Byzantine) Empire. However, while I think that a little optimistic, it would be interesting to see some sort of regional power rise in Arabia. If they do conquer the surrounding region though, then it seems to be do-or-die for the Romans to crush them.
 
Tabouk was definitely a close battle, but...c'mon. I mean, a cult of desert tribespeople taking out the Roman Empire? Hell, I have trouble picturing them spreading west to Persia, or east through the Ptolemies. That leaves them either striking forth through the Byzantines in Asia Minor to the steppe (similarly impossible) or staying bottled up in Arabia. Hell, they might even be able to take a bit of the Levant if they stick to mountains and deserts...but beyond that?

Let's say that they did, though: what happens to the Jews and Christians in these regions? I understand the Mohammedists (Allah-ists?) considered themselves to also worship Jehovah. Apparently they even had Jesus involved in some sort of heretical manner. In the event that this cult did get big, I wonder if they wouldn't just end up getting folded into the Church.
 

Keenir

Banned
What if the Cult of Allah, in Arabia had managed to take the war out of Arabia, and conquer the large parts of Iran, Syria, Africa and Spain? Instead of being destroyed after the Battle of Tabouk

but they did survive! they sailed to India and Thailand and Australia. the archeological evidence is right there!

(some say they traveled with teh Arabian Jews down the coast of Africa to become the modern tribes of South Africa and the east coast thereabouts...but I'm not sure)
 
In the event that this cult did get big, I wonder if they wouldn't just end up getting folded into the Church.

In what way? In the same way that Mormons consider themselves Christian? Because nobody who isn't a Mormon really agrees with them, y'know.
 
I understand the Mohammedists (Allah-ists?) considered themselves to also worship Jehovah. Apparently they even had Jesus involved in some sort of heretical manner. In the event that this cult did get big, I wonder if they wouldn't just end up getting folded into the Church.

It seems plausible that if these cultists dominate the Roman Empire, then
it might be merged into the Byzantine version of Christianity, starting the
epoch of schism somewhat earlier than *IOTL.

And the same applies to the Northern African assumption:
Even if that religion, and the people, spread to the West, it is obvious that these
areas cannot be comprised in a single political system - under the cultural-technological
conditions the Arabs were in. And of course, regional expansion of religions often
causes variations and finally schisms - that would happen to the cult of Allah as well.
Which leads to the possibility that the African Allah religion might merge with the
African Church later on; unless they don't develop in exactly different directions.

Something similar might happen in Persia: The new cultists
might unite with the "Thomanian" Christians in Eastern Persia and Western India,
founding yet another surviving local church, and preventing the expansion of
Zoroastranism into Western India (and, of course, into the Middle East and the
Caucasus).


But how did you get Spain involved?
I don't think that your conquest assumptions are so far-fetched; but of course,
they can't happen all together. They might defeat Persia, or Constantinople,
or go conquer in Africa. But such campaigns take time, and when they are
done with one of their enimies, I doubt that their historical opportunity would
still last.
Only Spain is completely ASB.
 

Skokie

Banned
Arabs: "Partake in my Allah cult! It's like any pagan cult but Arabian."

Egyptians: "What? Fuck off."

Arabs: "You mean you're not impressed?"

Egyptians: "We're bloody Egyptians, you know. Nothing impresses us."

Arabs: "Hey, you Greeks! Put down your thyrsos. Allah is great!"

Greeks: [*in mid-thyrso-whipping*] "O RLY? How are his abs? Because that is maniacally important to us."

Arabs: "Really? That's weird. Allah is great! Surely he's got fantastic abs, like an eight pack."

Greeks: "Hmm. We're up to twelve on the latest model. I don't know. Check with the Romans."

Arabs: "Romans, you will worship Allah or face doom! Your cities, arches, and fantabulous lifestyle will not last forever."

Romans: "Whut? No I don't want to buy any of your magic carpets, thank you."

Arabs: "But we're..."

Romans: "Ciao." [*speed off on mopeds*]

Arabs: "That's racist! What the fuck."

Christians: "You may want to try guilt."

Jews: "And monotheism! Crazy, jealous monotheism!"

Zoroastrians: "How about some hellfire? I do love hellfire. And hell bridges."

Christians: "Oh, and don't forget to bring weapons next time. We've found those work marvelously."

Arabs: "Hmm. I dunno if that's what Allah is like, really."

Christians: "Nonsense. Scaring the shit out of vulnerable people is the only way."

Jews: "Yeah, just tack on some hypocritical nonsense about God being teh Good and you're set."

Neo-Platonists: "Hey lads. Who's the new guy?"

Jews: "O hai. We were just talking about you and your hella bullshit notions of God that we borrowed."

Neo-Platonists: "Sweet."

Zoroastrians: "And don't get all caught up in theological minutiae like the Christians. It's a real drag. FIRE FIRE FIRE. I LOVE FIRE. ehm. Sorry."

Arabs: "Hmm. Maybe I'll try that."

Neo-Platonists: "Right. So who's up for some Thai?"
 
Let's say that they did, though: what happens to the Jews and Christians in these regions? I understand the Mohammedists (Allah-ists?) considered themselves to also worship Jehovah. Apparently they even had Jesus involved in some sort of heretical manner. In the event that this cult did get big, I wonder if they wouldn't just end up getting folded into the Church.

Doubtful. The Church would just persecute them like Cathars and other heretics. I mean, most of what we know about them does stem from Christian scholars attacking the cult.
 

Ak-84

Banned
OOC: Allah is the Arabic word for God, so I think it would not be cult of Allah in our language, just Muhammad followers.

Are you crazy, They got luckyt, had some good commanders and gave the Romans a fright at Tabouk, but that is ALL theu could have achieved.
 
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