What do you think was H. G. Wells' intent in these opening two paragraphs in the chapter on Islam?

The answer is the 1st option.

Explanation: The first sentence in the passage above talks about predicting the possibility of Mongolian domination and then the rest of that paragraph backs this prediction by outlining how weak or fragmented much of the world was. So the author was suggesting that the world seemed to be ripe for conquest.

The second paragraph makes reference to ignoring the latent forces of the Arabian Desert" because Arabia would have seemed what it had been for times immemorial, the refuge of small and bickering nomadic tribes. This reinforces the idea that no one would have predicted a new, powerful empire to emerge from Arabia at that time.

both believe in many god or polytheism

both built temples that they worshiped in both civilization's god were humanoid

both groups made religion a large portion of their lives

both believe in one religion throughout

the dead were buried with items for the afterlife