The Islamic empire formed from the great mixing of the cultures around the Middle East, Asia, and Europe. With the old world powers like Persia, the Byzantine empire, and the Sassanids, there was no indication that the Islamic empire would grow to not only take over the world powers but to forever influence the world with their dedicated pursuit and development of knowledge. The Islamic faith began with the prophet Muhammad who was a Quraysh man from Mecca. Muhammad’s visions served as the inspiration for the Koran and the Islamic religion as a whole. Spreading Islam was not simple, Muhammad and his followers were ostracized and were forced to leave Mecca. The followers of Muhammad eventually took over Mecca and the Islamic religion began