Islam is among the two most prevalent religions in the world with its religious followers accounting for a significant portion of the global population. Research has revealed that during the onset of the 10 th century, Islam was the most dominant religion in the world, spreading across a wide geographical area estimated to be equal to three continents. The spread of Islam is accounted for by various factors encompassing economic, social, political and religious factors.
Foremost, research points to the fact that Islam as a religion owes its growth and subsequent spread to political factors, mainly military conquest of new lands by Islamic states and cultures. Armies of the middle Eastern empires specialized in war and military conquest during the 5 th to 9 th century and any new lands conquered were converted into Islam. Additionally, political fragmentation of initially strong Islamic states for instance Abbasids is attributed for the quick spread of Islam during the 9 th to the 12 th century. The failure of states led to the disintegration of individuals from Islamic societies who continued to spread the ideologies to their new homes.
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In addition, scholars have revealed the role that was played by missionaries and religious leaders in the spread of Islam. For instance, after the death of Mohammed, findings reveal that missionaries and religious scholars alike focused on spreading the religion of Islam across as many states and empires as was humanly possible. Furthermore, economic factors have been sighted for the growth and spread of Islam. The advent of international trade and well defined trade routes opened up the world and allowed caravans and pilgrimages of merchants to travel in the search for markets and goods. Furthermore, subscription to the religion by powerful and influential members of the society along major trade routes and trade destination for instance the Indian Ocean, Persian Gulf, together with the Red Sea significantly contributed to its growth.
Despite the advent of the Ottoman empire as a predominantly Islamic empire, the empire quick spread resulted in its culmination into a home of diverse cultures, religions and traditions which were all united under a systematic and centralized system of governance. The Ottoman empire spread over three continents and lasted for approximately 6 centuries. Of interest to scholars and researchers alike is the ability of the institutions of the Ottoman empire to systematically organize itself around a centralized ruler despite encompassing various cultures. Specifically, this is given that 30% of the empire was made up of non-Muslim communities. However, a comprehension of the political and social organization reveals that there lacked a defined social structure and therefore rank and honor within the empire could be gained through education together with military service.
The Ottoman empire was able to house a significant population of non-Muslim community without persecuting or intimidating the members of the minority religion, mainly Christians and Jews. The ottoman empire revealed its tolerant and accepting nature through the admittance of laws that gave minority religions the limited powers to oversee the affairs of their societies. The Ottoman government required non-Muslim communities to pay military exemption taxes to cater for not adhering to Islamic state laws regarding participation in conquest.
However, the fall of the Ottoman empire was imminent given the convergence of a wide variety of religions, cultures and political organizations under one centralized government affiliated and committed to a specific dominant religion. This is due to the fact that the institutions of the Ottoman empire curved under the pressure of a rapidly growing empire with wide assimilation of cultures which paid allegiance to different forms of governments. The central government of the Ottoman empire therefore gradually lost influence and control over the vast empire by the advent of the 18 th century. Additionally, the prevalence of capitalism and financial and economic systems which were contrary to the governance system and society of the Ottoman empire bred contempt among members of the Ottoman empire and the rest of the world during the 1 st world war. Additionally, religious and social tensions among the diverse communities collectively led to the demise of the once great empire.
