The History Book

FURTHER EVENTS

THE ARAB ADVANCE IS HALTED AT TOURS

(732)

By the 8th century, the Islamic people of the Arabian peninsula had conquered much of North Africa and crossed into Europe, occupying Spain and moving into southern France. Their northward expansion seemed unstoppable—until 732, when they met combined Frankish and Burgundian troops at Tours. The Franks and Burgundians won the battle, and the Arab leader, Abdul Rahman Al Ghafiqi, was killed. Although there was another invasion in 735–39, the Arabs never got further than Tours. The Franks kept their power in Western Europe, Christianity was preserved as the continent’s dominant faith, and only Spain remained under Muslim rule.

ALFRED RULES WESSEX

(871–99)

Alfred was an able ruler and military leader ...