Effects of an Islam reduced to Arabia?

How would history develop if Islam emerges and develops in the early 7th century much as OTL, but fails to go off conquering large areas of the Roman Empire and Persia? The Islamic world in this scenario would be reduced only to the (unified) Arabian peninsula.

- How could Islam spread throughout the world? Is conquest of African states on the Red Sea plausible, or ASB? Will Islam develop a stronger missionary branch, trying to convert or absorb disaffected Christian sects?

- How will the Romans and Persians view Islam ITTL?

- In a world where Muslims don't really have to deal with large numbers of conquered Christians and Zoroastrians, how will this impact upon the development of the Islamic faith?

- How will Rome and Persia continue to develop over the next centuries? Is some sort of collapse predestined?

And any other thoughts on the matter...
 

Philip

Donor
- How could Islam spread throughout the world?

Trade across the Indian Ocean seems like one of the most effective ways.

Is conquest of African states on the Red Sea plausible, or ASB?
Axum and the Nubian states would make good targets. It seems reasonable that they could be conquered, especially if there is some internal strife.

How will the Romans and Persians view Islam ITTL?
As another challenger, but not as dangerous as IOTL.

Poliically, I suspect that Rome and Persia would vie for influence in Arabia just as they did in Armenia with a long sequence of shifting alliances.

There is also the issue of commerce. If Persia controls the overland route to East Asia, Arabia controls the sea routes, and Rome controls access to Europe, there seems to be lots of oppurtunities for conflict and shifting cooperation.

In a world where Muslims don't really have to deal with large numbers of conquered Christians and Zoroastrians, how will this impact upon the development of the Islamic faith?
Not an expert on the development of the Islamic faith, but I suspect the lack of Persian influence would be great.

Not holding Jerusalem could also be politically troubling for Islamic rulers.

How will Rome and Persia continue to develop over the next centuries? Is some sort of collapse predestined?
Certainly not predestined, but there will be challenges

Rome needs to deal with the Slavs and Turks. Egypt is going to continue to be a large problem after its extended occupation by the Sassanids. Syria perhaps less so, but by no means a given. Rome will still hold, at least initially Africa and Sicily (and part of Spain?) -- this will involve Rome more directly in the West.

The Persians, (Sassanids or otherwise) will have to face the Turks, but have time to develop. The loss of the eastern and southern Arabian coasts is likely to put the Persians more at odds with the Arabs.

And any other thoughts on the matter...
Mmm, competing Zoroastrian and Nestorian Turks.

Edit: The more I think about it, the more interesting the commercial aspect seems. Western Europe trying to bypass Rome for access to Arabian and Persian merchants. Rome playing ATL versions of the Maritime Republics off each other. Arabia and Persia vying for European markets. Potentially (semi-)independent Syria and Egypt competing to be the western end of the eastern trade routes.
 
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Peace would reign...

...Let the Sufis rule and the Dervishes revolve in their meditative search for wisdom...

...9/11 and the Hashishin would be seen as perversions of the Noblest Faith...
 
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