Spread Of Islam Research Paper

Words: 430
Pages: 2

During the most active periods of the Silk Road, Islamic faith was the most predominant religion that favoured trade and its activities. The spread of Islam was a case of mass cultural conversion, and it occurred in several levels. The first factor involved the spread of political power. Muslim rule of some sections of the western half of Silk Road was established quite early by the mid-8th century. Muslims were in control over most of the trade activities carried out. It made trade one of the major factors that led to spreading of Islam culture within the Central Asian culture (Christian 2000, p.13). Additionally, the third factor that led to spread of cultural activities was the influence portrayed by charismatic Muslim preachers. Politics …show more content…
Anyone who participated in business believed that converting to Islam would come with the privilege of having contacts both within and outside that could assist him in conducting various business activities. After converting, one would also benefit from the fortunate circumstances put across by Muslim delegates and from the Islamic law that oversaw any commercial activities (Whitfield 2004, p.28). Muslims predominantly influenced trade along the Silk Road; therefore, Islamization first originated from urban areas along the Silk Road and then spread into the countryside during the following centuries. Another factor that contributed to Islamization of the Silk Road was assimilation. Most people used assimilation to gain access to Islamic culture since children who belonged to a convert were raised in the community within which their fathers had converted to. Moreover, any child raised within a mix marriage was considered a Muslim. On the other hand, Islamic culture gradually affected Asians although some managed to retain their traditions. Some of them held onto their Iranian native religions longer compared to their urban counterparts as the trade and cultural exchange along the Silk Road influenced them (James, 2013,