The Umayyads and the Byzantine Naval War

For decades, the Byzantine Empire held the Mediterranean through sheer naval supremacy, but a shift in strategy under Muawiya ibn Abi Sufyan changed everything. This episode explores how the Umayyad Caliphate transformed from land-based conquerors into a maritime power, establishing the first Arab fleet to challenge Constantinople. We look at the Battle of Muziah and the crucial role of Abdallah ibn Abi Sarh in adapting Persian and Coptic shipbuilding techniques for the Islamic cause. The narrative traces the creation of the diwan al-jund military bureaucracy and the establishment of jund Filastin as strategic coastal hubs. By examining the dromon warships and the logistical challenges of crossing the sea, we uncover how this naval rivalry defined the geopolitical balance of the Middle East for centuries, moving beyond land battles to control the very waters that connected empires. #UmayyadCaliphate #ByzantineEmpire #MuawiyaIbnAbiSufyan #AbdallahIbnAbiSarh #BattleOfMuziah #Dromon #DiwanAlJund #JundFilastin #ArabNavalHistory #ConstantinopleSiege #IslamicExpansion #MediterraneanTrade #MaritimeWarfare #QadiyyaBattles #CopticShipbuilders #PersianNavyLegacy #MiddleEastHistory #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo