The day was to come when it was to expel the successors of the Caesars from their capital, and hold the peninsula of Greece in subjection, to dispute with Christianity the empire of Europe in the very centre of that continent, and in Africa to extend its dogmas and faith across burning deserts and through pestilential forests from the Mediterranean to regions southward far beyond the equinoetial line.
DISSENSIONS OF THE ARABS.

But, though Mohammedanism had not reached its culmination, the dominion of the khalifs had.

Not the sword of Charles Martel, but the internal dissension of the vast Arabian Empire, was the salvation of Europe.

Though the Ommiade Khalifs were popular in Syria, elsewhere they were looked upon as intruders or usurpers; the kindred of the apostle was considered to be the rightful representative of his faith.

Three parties, distinguished by their colors, tore the khalifate asunder with their disputes, and disgraced it by their atrocities.