The Role of the Islamic Navy in Bolstering the Presence of Muslims in the Eastern Basin of the Mediterranean Sea (28-99 AH / 648-718 AD)

Abstract

The study aimed to analyze the role of the Islamic navy in establishing an Islamic presence in the eastern Mediterranean during the early Islamic era. The Muslims developed a naval force to confront Byzantine threats and launch offensives, most notably capturing Cyprus and other Byzantine islands. However, the Islamic navy was weakened by the end of the Umayyad Caliphate following the failed siege of Constantinople.

  The study employed both historical and descriptive-analytical methodologies. It concluded that Muʿāwiyah ibn Abī Sufyān successfully established a naval force, commonly known as the maritime arsenal, achieving significant objectives, such as expelling Byzantine influence from the Islamic coasts and capturing strategic islands that served as supply bases for Byzantine fleets. Furthermore, the study highlighted that Mu’awiyah's strategic vision played a pivotal role in strengthening Islamic naval capabilities and realizing his maritime ambitions.