founded / was founding

While he founded Islam against a background of turbulent tribal feuding, Muhammad encouraged his followers to serve God with decency, humility and piety. But he was also clearly a gifted and ruthless soldier-statesman, founding a successful and expanding state by diplomacy and warfare –as well as a new world religion.

Please xplaon If it means that " he was founding " and was encouraging " and that " he founded state and religion by diplomacy and warfare". Sometimes I have problem with the aspect of the verb.

Titans of History: The Giants Who Made Our World

<Edited by moderator (Florentia52) to provide spacing for clarity>

vladv said:

Please explain If it means that " he was founding "

It doesn't - it means "he founded".

The present participle is used as the head of a supplementary modifier of he. The participle to indicate that the founding took place over time and simultaneously with the other events and achievement.

PaulQ said:

It doesn't - it means "he founded".

The present participle is used as the head of a supplementary modifier of he. The participle to indicate that the founding took place over time and simultaneously with the other events and achievement.

Thanks. So he founded the religion and encouraged ( finished one time actions , not progressive) and he was founding state by new religion? Or was he founding state and new religion at once ?