From the lite of the prophet Muhammed to the crusades, from the Ottoman empire to the Iranian revolution and beyond, the influence of Islam in the world has been profound and continuous over nearly 1500 years. The Rough Guide Chronicle: Islam puts the evolution and great diversification of Islamic thought and religious practice into historical context. Using a continuous time-line, maps, quotations, sidebars and numerous illustrations, the author covers culture and society thoughtfully, thoroughly and readably. Justin Wintle is series editor of the Rough Guide Chronicles. He has many publications to his credit, including several reference books and two novels.