The Islamic expansion started after the death of Prophet Muhammad in 632 (Tignor et al., 2017). The Umma (new Islamic community) spread from the Arabian Peninsula to Asia, North Africa, and Europe. Historians believe that forced conversions were used in some areas. Creation of sand Muslim dynasties, the Mamluks, Abbasids, Umayyads, and Fatimids played a huge role in spreading the religion. Islam spread quickly through the silk road in Asia and along the sea routes. The religion was spread in many ways, but the most effective ways were through trade, conquest, pilgrimage, and missionary.
The Islamic religion had a number of implications as it spread through North Africa; it brought conflicts of loyalties and political competitions. The nomads believed in many gods, and their conversion to Islam championed monotheism, and this brought unity to the tribes resulting in a rise of large Muslim empires. From North Africa, Islam spread to Egypt then to East Africa through the Indian Ocean.
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The spread of Islam facilitated the growth of trade ( Bentley et al., 2000). Prophet Muhammad himself was a merchant. Sharia laws also supported and protected commerce, thus providing a safe space for the growth of trade and travel. In the Sub-Saharan, gold, salt and slaves were the main commodities for trade (Bentley et al., 2000). This resulted in an increase in the slave trade. Muslims believed in the enslavement of nonbelievers as a step to conversion. In Sub-Saharan Africa, Islam was more lucrative to kings and leaders, as they had more to gain. Converted kings gained more authority, power, and control over the region. Although Islam brought civilization, it also increased conflicts in the region as some leaders were against capturing and trading laves. Women were also affected as they had a higher status prior to the introduction of Islam.
In India, Islam was introduced when an Indian kingdom, Sind was conquered during the reign of Uthman (Bentley et al., 2000). Missionaries played a huge role in introducing Islam to India. By then, Islam did not attract much interest. The conversion did not favor the leaders; rather, the commoners had more to benefit from it because of the Islamic teachings of equality. There was an exchange of cultural practices as the Muslims learned mathematical concepts and numbering systems from the Hindus. The Arabs, merchants’ trader, and Sufis contributed to the spread of Islam in India. The main method of conversion used was through socio-cultural diffusion and integration. Muslim missionaries achieved a lot of success through this method; however, in some areas. Conquest and violence were used (Bentley et al., 2000).
Islam reached Europe from North Africa through Spain. Islam brought and spread civilization through Europe. Muslim scholars learned from the ancient Greek aristocrats. They copied their knowledge in science and medicine, spreading it through the continent. The scholars also taught the concepts borrowed from the Hindus. The growth of trade in Europe was enhanced by the spread of Islam through crusades (Bentley et al., 2000) . Muslim merchants introduced Europeans to goods like spices, silk, and porcelain, sparking demand for luxurious goods.
Islamic introduction to Southwest Africa was characterized by the Arab-Byzantine war. This was a war between the Arabs and the Byzantine Empire. The southern provinces were lost to the Arab caliphates. The Muslims took control over the region and the sea route, causing political unrest and conflicts in the region. This also caused a strain between Southwest Asia and Rome, as the Roman Emperors practiced Christianity. Islam spread to South West Asia through nomads and just like in Africa. This resulted in monotheism, which united tribes and saw to the rise of strong empires e.g., the Seljuk Turks. Islam brought civilization to regions like Antolia.
References
Bentley, J. H., & Ziegler, H. F. (2000). Traditions and Encounters: A Global Perspective on the Past, Volume C: From 1750 to the Present.
Tignor, R., Adelman, J., Brown, P., Elman, B., Kotkin, S., Prakash, G., ... & Pittman, H. (2017). Worlds Together, Worlds Apart: 1 Volume . WW Norton & Company.
