- CHAPTER IV. THE MOHAMMEDAN CONQUEST. A J). 632—1104. .•l'i.TvJïTpft1 T.W* J I/ΝΗΊΓ·4»τΐ V. vHHiT' Πάψρτί τΐι Χ(ρονβικό, κΐ as χαμηλώσουν τ' "Αγια 1 Παπάδες vâpre τά Upà, καΐ aêis Keptà σβυστητΐ, Γιατί έιναι βίκ-ημα Θΐοΰ τ) ΐΙόΚι να τουρκεψτ;. Το the Arab 'wanderer on the barren and sun-stricken plains of the Hejjâz the well-watered, fertile land of Syria had always been an object of admiration and envy. As Mohammed the camel-driver sat on the hill which overlooks Damascus, and gazed upon the rich verdure of that garden of the East, his religious phrenzy, his vision ary schemes for the unity and regeneration of his race had well-nigh yielded to the voluptuous fascination of the scene. But enthusiasm and ambition triumphed: his eyes filled with tears, and exclaiming, " Man can enter Paradise but once," he turned sorrowfully back, and in that moment changed the fortunes of the world. When Abu Bekr, Mohammed's first successor, had quelled the disturbances which threatened the Muslim power, and found himself the acknowledged head of an immense confederation of restless and enthusiastic warriors, thoughts of conquest naturally presented themselves to his mind, and Syria was, as naturally, the first quarter to which he turned. His resolution once taken, he addressed a circular-letter to the petty chieftains of Arabia, in which, appealing ,to