Beginning in the twelfth century, the migration of various Turkic peoples over a four-century period greatly influenced the political and cultural organization of the Islamic world. This title assesses various factors—including the Mongol incursions and the Crusades—during the period of expansion and renewal leading up to Ottoman rule. Also covered are the impacts of colonialism, decolonization, and globalization on Islamic societies. This in-depth, academic guide's exploration of the history of Islam through the present gives readers the tools they need to understand the politics and culture of—and the problems faced by—the Islamic world today.