I would generally include all the early muslim conquests in the “ordinary conquest” category; certainly by the standards of the era.

Things turned vastly more militant, extreme, and vicious in the 14th Century, and — here’s the key thing — not just in the case of the muslims. Look at *Europe’s* history in the 14th Century.

Hundred Years’ War, pre-occupation with witchcraft, scapegoating of Jews, plague, death, starvation, and destruction. All tremendously violent.

I think the common factor is revealed in the freezing over of the Baltic in the early 14th Century and the widespread crop failures (cold summer) in the 1310s. See also the collapse of Viking colonies in *Green*land.

The climate turned sharply colder, food became scarce. The Ming expelled all foreigners and eliminated Christians. Even in India, things were difficult, the language Urdu (~Hindi) reflecting the Turkic word for ‘horde.’

It is reasonable to postulate that the extreme militancy of Islam arising in the 14th century was one reflection of a worldwide phenomenon. In the preceding warm centuries populations flourished, and became unsustainable with the return of cooler times.

The real difference is that such extreme militancy became enshrined amongst the arab practitioners of islam … and persists to this day. Most other cultures grew out of it.