sandyRoe
/// Never mind Islam, I think the rot started to set in at the time of the Roman Catholic relief Act of 1829. ///
Why bring Catholicism or even go back to 1829, just when some dare to criticised Islam?
If you want to get out your history book look at this.
http://www.thelatinlibrary.com/imperialism/notes/islamchron.html
June 827: Sicily is invaded by Muslims.
831: Muslim invaders capture the Sicilian city of Palermo and make it their capital.
Muslim raiders sack Marseille.
841: Muslim forces capture Bari, principle Byzantine base in southeastern Italy.
846: Muslim raiders sail a fleet of ships from Africa up the Tiber river and attack outlying areas around Ostia and Rome. Some manage to enter Rome and damage the churches of St. Peter and St. Paul. Not until Pope Leo IV promises a yearly tribute of 25,000 silver coins do the raiders leave. The Leonine Wall is built in order to fend off further attacks such as this.
858: Muslim raiders attack Constantinople.
859: Muslim invaders capture the Sicilian city of Castrogiovanni (Enna), slaughtering several thousand inhabitants.