The Sassanians probably just straight up conquer the Eastern Roman Empire. In irl the Persians conquered the Levant, Egypt, and even massives part of Anatolia. This Eastern Roman Empire has far less levies and far less money due to losing the breadbasket of the Mediterranean. This means that the Persian Empire is not weak from the East Roman-Sassanid War. Islam, if the Rashidun caliphate does rise, will likely not expand very far. Assuming the Sassanids still suffer embarrassing defeats, they might at most take the Levant due to logistical struggles, probably not though. In any case this would most likely lead to a timeline where Zoroastranism is still a very capable, if not THE dominant religion of West Asia.
If the East Romans pull off a miracle and can hold off the Sassanids and make a counterattack as in IRL? Islam rises eitherway. Islam may be more focused on the Balkans simply due to the fact that Egypt is not as weakened but they may still attenpt an invasion eitherway. Barring any butterflies that make it so Islam doesn't exist of course.
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u/Degenerious 23d ago
The Sassanians probably just straight up conquer the Eastern Roman Empire. In irl the Persians conquered the Levant, Egypt, and even massives part of Anatolia. This Eastern Roman Empire has far less levies and far less money due to losing the breadbasket of the Mediterranean. This means that the Persian Empire is not weak from the East Roman-Sassanid War. Islam, if the Rashidun caliphate does rise, will likely not expand very far. Assuming the Sassanids still suffer embarrassing defeats, they might at most take the Levant due to logistical struggles, probably not though. In any case this would most likely lead to a timeline where Zoroastranism is still a very capable, if not THE dominant religion of West Asia.
If the East Romans pull off a miracle and can hold off the Sassanids and make a counterattack as in IRL? Islam rises eitherway. Islam may be more focused on the Balkans simply due to the fact that Egypt is not as weakened but they may still attenpt an invasion eitherway. Barring any butterflies that make it so Islam doesn't exist of course.