Which of the following statements best describes the spread of Islam in West Africa?

The Silk Roads are amongst some of the most important routes in our collective history. It was through these roads that relations between east and west were established, exposing diverse regions to different ideas and ways of life. Notably, these exchanges also included the diffusion of many of the world’s major religions including Islam.

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After the advent of Islam in the Arabian Peninsula in the 7th century, Islam started its expansion towards eastern regions through trade encouraged by the development of the maritime Silk Roads. Muslims were known to have a commercial talent notably encouraged by Islam, as well as excellent sailing skills. Thus, they could monopolize the East-West trade of the maritime Silk Roads, connecting various major ports of eastern Asian regions together. Indeed, their commercial ships had to halt at various ports to be supplied with water and food, be repaired, or to wait for changes in wind direction.

These interactions resulted in further expansion of Islam to the people living in important coastal cities in the Indian Subcontinent, China, or in the more distant South-eastern islands of modern Indonesia or Philippines. It is believed that Islam first arrived in these South-eastern regions by the 7th century. Muslim merchants from the Arabian Peninsula had to pass through these islands of the south via the maritime Silk Roads to reach China's ports. 

In addition, according to historical accounts, Muslim traders came to the Indonesian islands because of the rare spices present there. It is believed that some of these merchants settled in Indonesia and blended with local people. Moreover, after the arrival of Muslim merchants in Sumatra Island, the kings of the island started to follow Islam, which further facilitated their integration into the trade roads around the 12th century AD. Archaeological evidence of the adoption of Islam amongst the royalty can be seen on tombstones engraved with the date of the Islamic year of Sumatran Kings of the 13th century.

Regarding the islands of the Philippines, archaeological records such as porcelain wares unearthed in the archipelago that belonged to the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD) and were imported to the Philippines by Muslim traders attest to the presence of Muslims before the 10th century. Moreover, in the 13th century, contacts between Muslim merchants and the local population, as well as commerce through the Silk Roads between the South of the Philippines and other neighbouring regions such as Brunei, Malaysia or Indonesia encouraged the spread of Islam amongst their local population.

Therefore, one would say that Islam arrived in South-East Asia in a peaceful way through trade and interactions between Muslim merchants and the locals. Similarly to Buddhism, Islam blended with existing cultural and religious influences of the Southeast Asian regions.

See also:

Gyeongju and the Silk Roads

Nara at the end of the Silk Roads

Ancient Monastic Hospital System in Sri Lanka

Brunei in the Maritime Silk Roads

Khwarazm Region and the Silk Roads

Quanzhou – The Heart of the Maritime Silk Roads

Mongolian Nomadism along the Silk Roads

The Spread of Buddhism in South and Southeast Asia through the Trade Routes

Sayyid Bin Abu Ali, a True Representative of Intercultural Relations along the Maritime Silk Roads

Thailand and the Maritime Silk Roads

Greek Presence in Central Asia

The Central Asian Maritime Silk Routes

Which of the following statements best describes the spread of Islam in West Africa? It was a voluntary process, spread by merchants.

  1. What is the spread of Islam in West Africa?
  2. What is one cause for the spread of Islam in West Africa?
  3. How did Islam spread to West Africa quizlet?
  4. What did the spread of Islam do to the continent of Africa?
  5. What are the reasons for the spread of Islam?
  6. Why did Islam spread so quickly?
  7. What was the effect of the introduction of Islam in West Africa quizlet?
  8. When did Islam spread to Africa?
  9. What effect did the spread of Islam have on trade?
  10. Under which Empire did Islam spread through West Africa quizlet?
  11. What was the effect of the introduction of Islam and West Africa?
  12. How long has Islam been in Africa quizlet?
  13. What are two ways that West Africans adopted Islamic religious practices?
  14. Which group of trading peoples spread Islam to West Africa and what two major items did they trade with West Africans?
  15. Who brought Islam to Ghana quizlet?
  16. How did Islam initially spread to North Africa?
  17. What was the impact of Islam in North Africa?
  18. How did Islam spread to Nigeria?
  19. How did the status of Islam in West Africa change after the establishment of the Sokoto Caliphate?
  20. How did Islam contribute to the rise of Ghana?
  21. What is the relationship of Islam to African culture?
  22. How did Islam influence society in Mali quizlet?
  23. What most affected ancient West African trade?
  24. Why were the Niger and Senegal rivers important to the civilizations that developed in West Africa?
  25. How did Islam spread across North Africa Asia and parts of Europe?
  26. Where in Africa was Islamic influence concentrated?
  27. Which brought an end to the great West African empires?
  28. How did Islam get to Sub-Saharan Africa?
  29. In what ways was the introduction of Islam important to the people of Nigeria?
  30. What are some problems faced by West African economies?
  31. Who spread their religious beliefs as they traveled across the desert to exchange goods?
  32. How did Islam spread in West Africa?
  33. What route did Islam traveled from the starting point into West Africa?
  34. What made the West African kingdoms wealthy?
  35. How did Islam spread throughout Africa quizlet?
  36. What was the role of Islam in West Africa?
  37. When did Islam come to West Africa?
  38. How was Islam introduced to Africa?
  39. How did Islam spread in Nigeria?

Islam spread rapidly through much of West Africa beginning in the 7th century. This was in part because the region was blessed with fertile land and a number of wealthy city-states. Additionally, Islam was able to take hold due to its egalitarian and communitarian principles. Muslims embraced religious diversity and were not content to just live within the confines of their own community. As a result, Islam spread rapidly through much of West Africa.

What is the spread of Islam in West Africa?

Following the conquest of North Africa by Muslim Arabs in the 7th century CE, Islam spread throughout West Africa via merchants, traders, scholars, and missionaries, that is largely through peaceful means whereby African rulers either tolerated the religion or converted to it themselves.

What is one cause for the spread of Islam in West Africa?

While the motivations of early conversions remain unclear, it is apparent that the early presence of Islam in West Africa was linked to trade and commerce with North Africa. Trade between West Africa and the Mediterranean predated Islam, however, North African Muslims intensified the Trans-Saharan trade.

How did Islam spread to West Africa quizlet?

How did Islam spread to west africa? Islam would spread to West Africa by trade.

What did the spread of Islam do to the continent of Africa?

Similarly, in the Swahili coast, Islam made its way inland — spreading at the expense of traditional African religions. This expansion of Islam in Africa not only led to the formation of new communities in Africa, but it also reconfigured existing African communities and empires to be based on Islamic models.

What are the reasons for the spread of Islam?

Islam spread through military conquest, trade, pilgrimage, and missionaries. Arab Muslim forces conquered vast territories and built imperial structures over time.

Why did Islam spread so quickly?

There are many reasons why Islam spread so quickly. First Mecca was connected to many global trade routes. Another important reason was their military conquered lots of territory. A third factor was the Muslims fair treatment of conquered peoples.

What was the effect of the introduction of Islam in West Africa quizlet?

Islam brought to west Africa new religious practices. Ethical values. Islamic forms of government and law. An emphasis on education.

When did Islam spread to Africa?

Seventh century A.D..

Islam had already spread into northern Africa by the mid-seventh century A.D., only a few decades after the prophet Muhammad moved with his followers from Mecca to Medina on the neighboring Arabian Peninsula (622 A.D./1 A.H.).

What effect did the spread of Islam have on trade?

Another effect of the spread of Islam was an increase in trade. Unlike early Christianity, Muslims were not reluctant to engage in trade and profit; Muhammad himself was a merchant. As new areas were drawn into the orbit of Islamic civilization, the new religion provided merchants with a safe context for trade.

Under which Empire did Islam spread through West Africa quizlet?

Mansa Musa spread islam religion and education throughout West Africa. He was part of the Mali empire.

What was the effect of the introduction of Islam and West Africa?

ECONOMIC EFFECTS

Islam promoted trade between West Africa and the Mediterranean. The religion developed and widened the trans-Saharan Caravan trade. The trade enriched the West African and the Muslim traders. Muslims from North Africa came in their numbers and settled in the commercial centres.

How long has Islam been in Africa quizlet?

Terms in this set (35) When did Islam begin? Early 600's AD.

What are two ways that West Africans adopted Islamic religious practices?

List two ways that West Africans adopted Islamic religious practices. They learned the Five Pillars of Islam. They fasted, worshipped in mosques, and went on pilgrimages.

Which group of trading peoples spread Islam to West Africa and what two major items did they trade with West Africans?

Which group of trading peoples spread Islam to west Africa and what two major items did they trade with West Africans? Burbers and they traded salt for West African Gold.

Who brought Islam to Ghana quizlet?

In the 11th century, Muslims from the north, the Almoravids, invaded West Africa. In 1076, they captured Kumbi. The Almoravids did not hold power for long in Ghana, but under their rule, Islam became more widespread.

How did Islam initially spread to North Africa?

Western Africa

The spread of Islam in Africa began in the 7th to 9th century, brought to North Africa initially under the Umayyad Dynasty. Extensive trade networks throughout North and West Africa created a medium through which Islam spread peacefully, initially through the merchant class.

What was the impact of Islam in North Africa?

Islam had a great impact on the culture of North Africa. It affected the way people lived including their government, trade, and education. The religion of Islam began in the Middle East during the early 600s CE. Not long after the death of the prophet Muhammad in 632 CE, the Arabs began to expand their empire.

How did Islam spread to Nigeria?

Islam arrived in Nigeria in the 11th and 12th centuries through trade, migration, and through the travels of the scholar-mystic-wayfarer along trade routes, through the regions of Kanem and Bornu had been in contact with Muslim traders as early as the 9th century.

How did the status of Islam in West Africa change after the establishment of the Sokoto Caliphate?

How did the status of Islam in West Africa change after the establishment of the Sokoto caliphate? It changed from a minority religion to the majority religion in the region. Women were active participants in Islamic revitalization movements.

How did Islam contribute to the rise of Ghana?

Spread of Islam in Ghana

Islam is thought to have successfully penetrated southern Ghana following the "collapse of the Bono and the Begho states, and its increase was encouraged by the fact that the slave trade became more lucrative and competitive".

What is the relationship of Islam to African culture?

Islam made its presence felt in much of Africa (the East coast and Horn of Africa as well as West Africa) mainly through trade and migration. In West Africa, for instance, Islam was introduced from North Africa by the Berbers through the trans-Saharan trade as early as the ninth century.

How did Islam influence society in Mali quizlet?

How did islam affect the achievements of Mali and Songhai? For Mali Islam was a very crucial part of its history because its greatest ruler, Mansa Musa was a Muslim King. He established mosques, set up schools to study the Quran, and because of Musa's hajj the news of Mali spread through all of west Africa.

What most affected ancient West African trade?

What most affected ancient West African trade? Lack of transportation. natural landforms. limited resources for trade. too many merchants.

Why were the Niger and Senegal rivers important to the civilizations that developed in West Africa?

The vegetation zones in this region include desert, semi desert (Sahel), savanna, and forest. Label the Niger and Senegal Rivers. Why do you think these rivers were important to the societies that developed in West Africa? The rivers helped make the land fertile and provided fish.

How did Islam spread across North Africa Asia and parts of Europe?

First, Arab traders came from Asia into North Africa. They moved across the Sahara into West Africa. Later on, other merchant traders came by boat to the east coast. Islam spread as ivory, salt, slaves, gold, and many other items were traded and sold.

Where in Africa was Islamic influence concentrated?

Early Muslim interest was concentrated on two major western African kingdoms: Kanem, in the east, north of Lake Chad; and Ghana, in the extreme west, on the borders of modern Mauritania and Mali.

Which brought an end to the great West African empires?

The Kingdom of Songhay came to an end when the Moroccans invaded and conquered them. By 1600 CE, the days of the great kingdoms of West Africa were over.

How did Islam get to Sub-Saharan Africa?

Islam, according to Babou, was brought to sub-Saharan Africa "by traders, by holy men and by teachers, across the Sahara. Babou also cautioned that Muslims shouldn't reduce the religion to mandates of "a long beard or short pants … or dressing a certain way.

In what ways was the introduction of Islam important to the people of Nigeria?

Influence on culture

Sharia was also introduced into Northern Nigeria as Islam spread across the region. In addition to law and trade, Islam had some influence in spreading the choice of dressing, language and choice of names.

What are some problems faced by West African economies?

The challenges range from terrorism and violent extremism, to piracy, political instability, elections-related violence, drug trafficking or deadly viruses.

Who spread their religious beliefs as they traveled across the desert to exchange goods?

Muslims Build an International Trade Network

Between 750 and 1350, merchants built a vast trading network across Muslim lands and beyond. Camel caravans—the "ships of the desert"—crossed the Sahara into West Africa.

How did Islam spread in West Africa?

Following the conquest of North Africa by Muslim Arabs in the 7th century CE, Islam spread throughout West Africa via merchants, traders, scholars, and missionaries, that is largely through peaceful means whereby African rulers either tolerated the religion or converted to it themselves.

What route did Islam traveled from the starting point into West Africa?

Along what route do you think Islam traveled from that starting point into West Africa? North Africa was first introduced to Islam because it was closest to the Middle East. Islam then spread to West Africa through the Sahara Desert.

What made the West African kingdoms wealthy?

Ghana's rulers gained incredible wealth from trade, taxes on traders and on the people of Ghana, and their own personal stores of gold. They used their wealth to build an army and an empire. Extensive trade routes brought the people of Ghana into contact with people of many different cultures and beliefs.

How did Islam spread throughout Africa quizlet?

The two ways in which Islam spread through Africa were: In North of Africa, it spread by conquest. In the South, it spread through trade.

What was the role of Islam in West Africa?

Islam promoted trade between West Africa and the Mediterranean. The religion developed and widened the trans-Saharan Caravan trade. The trade enriched the West African and the Muslim traders. Muslims from North Africa came in their numbers and settled in the commercial centres.

When did Islam come to West Africa?

OVERVIEW: — Islam arrived in sub-Saharan West Africa as early as the 8th century, travelling with Arab traders from North Africa. The Muslim merchants brought trade and goods to exchange for gold and facilitated trade by introducing concepts such as contract law and credit arrangements.

How was Islam introduced to Africa?

According to Arab oral tradition, Islam first came to Africa with Muslim refugees fleeing persecution in the Arab peninsula. This was followed by a military invasion, some seven years after the death of the prophet Mohammed in 639, under the command of the Muslim Arab General, Amr ibn al-Asi.

How did Islam spread in Nigeria?

Islam arrived in Nigeria in the 11th and 12th centuries through trade, migration, and through the travels of the scholar-mystic-wayfarer along trade routes, through the regions of Kanem and Bornu had been in contact with Muslim traders as early as the 9th century.

The spread of Islam in West Africa can be best described as a gradual process, starting with the Islamic merchants who traveled through the region for trading purposes. Over time, Islamic practices began to take root in the region and to develop its own unique character, facilitating wider spread of Islam. There was a gradual process of conversion to Islam, and there was also a process of integration, whereby the Muslims adapted their traditional cultural practices to the conditions of the region. In the late fifteenth century, Islam began to adversely affect the traditional cultures of the region, leading to the establishment of competing Muslim sects. The spread of Islam in West Africa is a gradual process, starting with the Islamic merchants who traveled through the region for trading purposes. Over time, Islamic practices began to take root in the region and to develop its own unique character, facilitating wider spread of Islam. There was a gradual process of conversion to Islam, and there was also a process of integration, whereby the Muslims adapted their traditional cultural practices to the conditions of the region. In the late fifteenth century, Islam began to adversely affect the traditional cultures of the region, leading to the establishment of competing Muslim sects.

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What was the spread of Islam's influence in West Africa?

Islam promoted trade between West Africa and the Mediterranean. The religion developed and widened the trans-Saharan Caravan trade. The trade enriched the West African and the Muslim traders. Muslims from North Africa came in their numbers and settled in the commercial centres.

Which of the following statement best describes the spread of Islam?

Which of the following statements BEST describes the spread of Islam under the first four caliphs? Arabs conquered the peoples east of Persia and converted them to Islam.

What is the best explanation for the rapid spread of Islam?

Islam spread through military conquest, trade, pilgrimage, and missionaries. Arab Muslim forces conquered vast territories and built imperial structures over time.

What led to the spread of Islam in East Africa?

Between the eighth and ninth centuries, Arab traders and travelers, then African clerics, began to spread the religion along the eastern coast of Africa and to the western and central Sudan (literally, “Land of Black people”), stimulating the development of urban communities.