THE RECORD
What changed
Islamic tradition dates the first revelation to 610 and the Hijra to 622; after 632 the caliphates expanded rapidly.
EVIDENCE
What remains
Quran manuscripts, inscriptions, coins, archaeology and non-Muslim texts illuminate early history.
WHY IT MATTERS
Why it matters
Faith, Arabic, law and trade connected vast regions while local cultures persisted in varied forms.
OPEN QUESTION
Where interpretation begins
Details rely heavily on later traditions; conquest, religious spread and the pace of conversion must be distinguished.