Arab conquest of Syria

The Arab conquest of Syria occurred in the 7th century during the early Muslim expansion, primarily between 634 and 638 CE. Arab Muslim armies moved into the region, which was then part of the Byzantine Empire, and rapidly overwhelmed local defenses through military campaigns. This conquest was driven by a combination of religious motivations, desire for territorial expansion, and political shifts within the Byzantine Empire. As a result, Syria transitioned from Byzantine Christian rule to Islamic control, integrating into the expanding Arab Caliphate, which significantly influenced the area's cultural, religious, and political landscape.