In < I>The Islamic Empire< /I>, author Phyllis Corzine traces the development of the empire from its beginnings in the remote deserts of Arabia, to its lightning spread throughout the Middle East, to its expansion within a century to substantial parts of three continents, to the fall of its fabled capital city of Baghdad in 1258. The author uses numerous primary source quotations to recount the many artistic and scientific achievements of this brilliant empire and its lasting influence on Western Civilization.