Under the Abbasid Empire , relations became Becoming more normal , with embassies exchanged Exchange and even periods of truce , but conflict Hostile_encounter remained the norm , with almost annual raids Attack and counter-raids , sponsored Supply either by the Abbasid government or by local rulers , well into the 10th century .

The Arabs also took to the sea , and from the 650s on , the entire Mediterranean Sea became Becoming a battleground , with raids Attack and counter-raids being launched Military_operation against islands and the coastal settlements .