Myth of the Islamic Golden Age

Scholars often argue that Islam is not inherently bad, and their proof is that Islam once had a Golden Age. That was 800-1200 AD in the Mid East, and somewhat later in Spain. Islam just needs to be reformed, to return to its former glory.

Winston Marshall refutes this in this interview. He says that Islam expanded by force, not by trade, and by subjugating Christians, Jews, and others. The supposed great accomplishments under Islam were really from non-Moslems whose culture contined under Islamic rule. Eventually Islam completely took over in those countries, and that golden age ended.

Spain/Portugal was the exception, as there the Christians eventually expelled the Moslems. Spain and Portugal then became great naval empires.