Why did Islam spread Quickly? - Trade The Islamic religion spreaded quickly because of trade. Based on the fact, that Islam had trade over many empires. Corresponding to the map on Document A, “ Adding from the profits of caravans was a brisk pilgrimage trade, for Mecca was the site of Arabia 's holiest shrine.
Islam spread so quickly, because of trade, devoted followers and invasion of armies. Trade helped Islam spread quickly. According to Doc A, Mecca was prosperous and important since it was at the crossroads of caravan trade. Because Mecca was at the crossroads of trade (Islam was there) many foreigners became introduced to Islam and they expressed that idea to other people. Another way that trade spread was by devoted followers.
Much like Buddhism that did for those along the Silk Road, conversion to Islam created a sense of community that among those involved thus helping to facilitate commercial many transactions. The Swahili civilization played an important role in the world of Indian Ocean commerce. They provided commercial A centers that would accumulate goods from the interior of sub-Saharan Africa and then would exchange them for products of the Indian Ocean trading network. They not only were A involved economically in this commerce. They also participated culturally in the larger Indian Ocean world.
Islam spread quickly because of trade. Mecca, where Islam originated, is in the middle of many trade routes, causing them to interact with and spread their religion to others easily. This is shown by Document A, a map of trade routes in 570, created from various sources. Document A states, “By the middle of the sixth century... Mecca was...prosperous and important.
Mansa Musa, king of the Malian empire, in specific was a large influence on the religion of the population. Other pieces of Muslim architecture, such as the great Mosque of Djenne, are evidence of the religion’s dominance in Sub-Saharan Africa. Along the Indian Ocean trade routes, we also see Islam as a dominant religion, but there is much more of a variety. Evidence of Islam in Eastern Africa can be found in the language itself. Swahili, the dominant language of the region, is influenced heavily by Arabic.
On his journey across East Africa, Ibn Battuta, a Muslim traveler from Morocco, wrote that he“went to the mosque and prayed behind the [sultan’s] screen(Doc 6).” Ibn Battuta demonstrated that the Swahili City-States followed Islam. Islam crossed over large areas of land to influence Africa. Islam in Africa showed a sense of unity and uniformity between the empires. The spread of Islam promoted trade across the Sahara Desert between West and East
In North Africa the Berber merchants were one of the major groups that traded with Sub-Saharan West Africa through the Trans-Saharan trade routes. The Berber merchants played an essential part in dispersing the Islam and its traditions into Sub-Saharan West Africa since they frequently used the Sahara to trade. When Islam made its way into Sub-Saharan West Africa, it was absorbed into their society but unlike in other societies, Islam merged with the existing animistic culture. A majority of the Sub-Saharan West African population didn’t convert to Islam but remained animistic. The people who converted were merchants and elite rulers.
By having no tolerance for crime, the rulers had very successful kingdoms with complete control over them(Doc. 6). Whether it be the close proximity to other parts of the world, the barren deserts, or the rainforests, Africa’s people have been aided in their success by the continent’s natural advantages. A map showing trade routes, this document is the perfect example of Africa’s prime location. Right near Europe and Asia, trading routes in northern and eastern Africa flourished(Doc 1). Although this is another trade route map, it gives us more insight on the routes that were used to get to other parts of the world, such as Asia.
While Europe was plagued with diseases and constant warfare, Islamic kingdoms in Africa were prospering. After the fall of the Kingdom of Ghana, the Mali Empire rose to dominate Western Africa. It became one of the most prominent states in the Islamic world, in large part due to Musa Keita I. Considered to be one of the richest people to ever live, he has been credited with making the Mali Empire a cultural center in the Islamic world. Musa’s pilgrimage to Mecca, which not only was one of the grandest journeys in history but also had a significant influence on numerous kingdoms and the spread of Islam in Africa. Mansa Musa began his rule in 1312 after his uncle didn’t return from a voyage into the depths of the Atlantic Ocean.
Some people lived in larger, centralized states, while other lived in simple village communities. Islam was one of the most widespread religions in Africa before missionaries came to convert them to Christianity. This might have been a more positive influence if the Europeans hadn’t viewed the Africans as a people in need of refinement and guidance instead of understanding and respecting their culture. However, one benefit of Europe’s growing control of Africa was that the transatlantic slavery slowly came to an end, but in East Africa, slavery continued to run rampant. Although the end of much of the slavery did rid Africa of much exploitation, it continued in other ways including the harvest of copper, ivory, and other resources taken from the Congo, civilians forced into hard labor for little compensation, and little to no control of the government was given to native
The societies of West Africa, Europe, and North America exhibited similarities and differences in their religious beliefs, values, and government systems. These contrasts and similarities were further made apparent during European expansion across the Atlantic and the subsequent new cross cultural interactions that were created. One way in which the societies of West Africa, Europe, and North America diverged was in their belief systems. Unlike Europe and North America, West Africa gradually adopted Islam in addition to its traditional religions. Islam diffused through the trans-Saharan trade with North Africa and by the 1200’s was assimilated into the Mali and Songhai Empire.
An Illinois Civil War soldier named Charles Wright Wills wrote in his diary, “I enjoy the tramping, the mud, the cold, and being tired, and everything mean there is about soldiering, except being hungry. That beats me to a fraction. If I could only go without eating three or four days at a time I would pass as a soldier, but bless me, missing a meal is worse than drawing a tooth.” The Civil War was fought between the United States of America and the Confederate States of America. It took place during April 12, 1861 through April 9, 1865.
Islam was welcomed into areas under these empires because people didn 't like the oppressive rule. In conclusion, trade, conquest and choice are reasons Islam spread so
In History of Africa, Shillington focuses on many aspects of African culture and factors that made Africa to be the continent that it is today. Chapter 5 primarily focuses on the Northern region of Africa and how empires took over and spread their ideology technology, and culture all through out the region. Even today some remnants of the Roman and Greek empire live on to this day (Shillington, 69.) Despite many people getting the impression that Northern Africa is only influenced by Arabic and Islam, these empires and their conquests are best understood through topics like intricate trading routes, farming, and the spread of religion. Shillington provides an in depth analysis of how many of these conquests affected Northern Africa centuries ago and today.
Before the 1500 ce Africa had many trades, cultures, and also some encounters with Islam. In 1000 ce Islam invaded the West African State, in Dr. Mayers, 2012 study of Africa he stated that the spread of Islam revealed the power of the religion, commercial, and also the military qualities. Many civilizations were being change without being close to at least one Islamic statement. Islam had spread so much in Africa that Islamization had served to connect with Africa and connected more with the outside world through trade, religion, and
