Did the expansion rate of the universe exceed lightspeed?

I have read from some books during the years that the expansion rate of the universe at the moment of its birth was several times greater than the speed of light. As normal matter can’t travel faster than the speed of light this is remarkable. The explanations I have read is that the normal laws of physics just wasn’t there in the beginning, allowing things to go superluminal.Does anyone know if the expansion rate of the universe did exceed light speed and by how much? What could it mean if the birth of the universe allowed superluminal speeds? What would happen if we accelerate something beyond the speed of light?Timeline of the big bang:Graphical timeline of the Big Bang - WikipediaApparently the definition "Big Bang" is often referred to BOTH the hot dense phase in the beginning of the universe and the expansion-theory of the universe itself.Big Bang - Wikipedia Edited by Adminnemooseus, : See above.

A clarification:If the laws of physics didn't exist (as we know them today) in the very birth of the universe then my early question about the expansion rate answers itself (for an unknown cause/pre-law things were allowed to go superluminal). But I am interested in if the expansion rate AFTER the formation of modern laws could have exceeded light speed due to the enormous energy from the birth of the universe. I have read (somewhere) that it would acquire a source of infinite energy to exceed light speed for normal matter... isn’t that just what the birth of the universe is described like? As having infinite energy in the beginning?cavediver... you seem to know this kind of stuff! Please drop a line in here to give your views on this!

Thanks Percy and cavediver for your answers. Much to take in but I think I got the most important parts right. And it does make a whole lot of sense. But if the space itself continue to grow like this.. is there any other outcome than a forever-going expansion? How come all the theories of possible "big crunch" scenarios? Or does that simply only apply to MATTER? Edited by Explorer, : No reason given.

No, you are not alone, Straggler. cavediver... you totally lost us there. Aren’t you talking about time-dilation now?Further..
I find this "expansion of space but not time or matter" incredible complicated. When I looked at wikipedia on this subject (for the term "space") I got just as confused. There seems to be no good explanation for a concept that is mainly "imagined". Even though it is observable, talking about the expansion of the universe, the whole concept of WHAT is actually expanding is beyond my current understanding. Lets say that the matter in the universe at some point in time creates enough gravity for a "global" gravity-hole (big crunch scenario) that makes all the matter in the universe travel towards that hole. Even when it does the expansion of "space" wouldn’t stop as I understand it? It would be a battle of some kind between the "space-expansion" and the gravity force. Wherever that leads us...

I must admit you lost me there again, Cavediver... lol. But please dont make an effort to further explain. I will understand in time. It might be that I actually did understand it but never understood it. How is that for a verbal paradox One of my original questions... what would happen if "something" went faster than light speed? We have concluded that no one would detect it , right? But would there be any other changes to "it"? What would happen to the relative time IF something went FTL?

Oh, yes... I remember those from some books I have read. Weird indeed.