Contents: Preface. 1. Introduction. 2. The formation of the international political order. 3. The social order: mercantile interests, military power, liberty. 4. The intellectual traditions. 5. The Sufism of the Tariqah orders. Index.

"The Islamic order had the support of the political wing of the Islamic States. Many Mongol Kings and the Mughal Kings in India gave full support to the development of the Islamic order. In the beginning the Islamic order spread due to the emergence of many saintly orders and Arabic scholars." (jacket)