The book presents and interprets the history of the broader Near East region within the context of Arab-Islamic history from the beginnings of Islam (late 6th century) until the Ottoman conquest of the region and its incorporation into the Ottoman Empire (1517). The author, relying on original sources and attempting an insider's interpretation of Arab-Islamic history, narrates and analyzes the developments that transformed a small, local community of believers into one of the largest political and state entities ever in the history of humanity. He focuses his historical research on the events and transformations concerning peoples, societies, and states in the Near East. The book aspires to meet the needs of Greek-speaking students and scholars of Near Eastern history during the medieval and early modern periods. It serves as a useful and authoritative tool for study and research in the field of Middle Eastern studies in Greece.