The Religion of Egypt and India

The Egyptian Christians are called Copts, a word .
             derived from the Greek word for the country, Aegyptos. The new religion quickly spread .
             from Alexandria into the hinterland, reaching Upper Egypt by the 2nd century. .
             However, the Iconoclastic Controversy of the 8th and early 9th centuries caused religious .
             disunity that weakened the Byzantine empire. .
             The controversy was over the question of whether or not Christians should .
             continue to revere icons. Most unsophisticated believers tended to revere icons but many .
             political and religious leaders wanted to have them smashed because they believed that .
             venerating icons was a form of idolatry. In 787, the controversy was settled and some .
             restrictions were put on the use of icons. Another factor that resulted in the weakening of .
             the Byzantine empire was their treatment of Egypt as a mere estate to be exploited for the .
             benefit of the rulers. Stearns states, "The new empire benefited from the high levels of .
             civilization long present in the eastern Mediterranean" (355). Egyptians were not satisfied .
             with the Byzantine Empire's rule, making it easier for the Islamic army to overrun Egypt. .
             Muslims invaded Egypt in 641 A.D. and brought with them Islam, the religion .
             that is currently the main and official religion of Egypt. The origin of Islam is credited to .
             Muhammad, who lived between 570 and 632 A.D. Muslims believed him to be the last .
             and greatest prophet of God. It was through him that the Qur'an was dictated. Muhammad .
             was born in Mecca, and as a result of his father's death, was raised by his relatives. .
             According to Stearns, he was born in a respected clan and powerful tribe (284). In his .
             early twenties, he married his first wife Khadijah and managed her wealth. According to .
             Stearns, being a trader and traveler exposed him to the life outside of Arabia. He states, .
             "His life as a merchant in Mecca and on the caravan routes exposed Muhammad to the .
             world beyond Arabia and probably made him acutely aware of the clan rivalries that had .