Islamic Achievements

It was a crossroad for caravan trade and an added advantage was that Mecca was home to the Ka’ba, a holy pagan shrine that many people the follows the Five pillars make a pilgrimage to sometime during their life. Many cities were easily reached from Mecca because of several surrounding trade routes, land and sea, that connected Mecca to multiple nearby locations. Mecca was a central location of the Arabian Peninsula and was very easy to get to. Not only this, Mecca also had surrounding bodies of water that were very important for trade that led to cultural diffusion. The Surrounding large empires, once conquered would add large additions to the current Islamic empire of the time. This could cause the fast spread of Islam since they were such big areas. (Doc A) Islam stretched across several regions. In the 600’s it spread North to France and out East towards India. Islam was the fastest spreading religion ever and it’s military was able to conquer many areas within a very short period of time. Followers of islam were not only devoted to sharing their religion but they were also well-organized and skilled in fighting. (Doc C) The Byzantine and Persian Empires were nearby and the Muslims were able to take over those areas because the empires were weak from their own battling. (Doc D) The Byzantine Empire tried to resist the expansion of Islam however, the people of the Hims in

In the 7th and 8th centuries, Islam spread from its beginnings in Arabia to cover the entire Middle East and parts of Africa, Asia, and Europe. As (Document 8) shows, by the year 750, Islam stretched from Eastern Persia in the Middle East, all the way to the westernmost edges of Spain and North Africa, bordering the Atlantic Ocean. Islam expanded so rapidly because of its techniques on conquering unstable areas and converting people to Islam, preventing setbacks and obstructions. Islam had three main reasons for its eminent prosperity. The way that Muslims treated the conquered people allowed for peace throughout the empire. Tolerance, combined with the military power, a disciplined army, and an overall appealing religion of Islam, provided the template that allowed the empire to expand to encompass an enormous amount of area.

I’m sure everyone knew about how islam one of the most popular religions, but most people never realized how quickly it spread. Islam is a religion that was created in the time 610 C.E. by a judge named Muhammad who lived in Mecca. He went to pray at mt. Hira as he usually does, but then an archangel appeared. The angel then grabbed Muhammad and shared information about Allah or God and and called the religion Islam. This brings you to the question, how did Islam spread so quickly. I believe the main ways Islam spread so quickly was because of the protection they give you in the empire, conquering land, and through trade.

On document a titled “Merchant Trade Routes” from the McDougal Littelll World History: Medieval and Early Modern Times it states “Overseas trade to the Arabian Peninsula included amazing luxury goods like spices, textiles (for clothing) and spices from Asia. Adding to the profits from caravan was a busy pilgrimage trade…” Though this may be true, transportation and travel took a long time during that time period, so it probably took them a while to receive or get the resources from the other empires. Military conquest and taxes, treaties, and toleration are a stronger argument because they show that they were able to increase population of Muslims by either letting them convert to Muslim or pay them taxes. Either way, Islam had more followers and became prosperous.

Islam spread quickly because people converted to their religion to avoid the hassle that Islam had in store. Muslims were extremely violent toward Non-muslims, but if they agreed to become Muslim, the violence would be ended (Doc E). So some people pretended to become Muslim for an easier life, which was a great idea. But some really may have switched over to the Muslim religion from their own. Pretending to, or truly becoming Muslim was the only way out of being threatened, and it was key to a pretty much worry free life. Muslims didn’t have to pay taxes and were not ghazued (Doc D).

Hello! I'm Veronica, a Muslim soldier. I'm here to explain why Islam spread so quickly. In document A, it is stated that Mecca was a good place for trade and these traders went to many places for their dealings. While they were doing this, they also brought their religion and beliefs, and spread it upon the people they met. In document B, some of Islam's beliefs are stated. Many people seem to enjoy these beliefs, therefore converting to the Islam religion. In document C, traders took routes through Medina, Isahan, Merv, Bukhara, Kabul, Damascus, Constantinople, Cairo, Aswan, Caliruan, Tangler, Cordoba, Toledo, Saragossa, and Tours. These are all places where the brought and expressed their religious beliefs.

The Islamic civilization spread to encompass such an extensive empire by using their resources and becoming a peaceful civilization with peaceful people.

Mecca, the city where Islam was founded, was the meeting point of three large trading routes that lead to the Silk Road(Doc A). When these traders went through this town they saw wealth and prosperity. They took note of the religion and spread the word of the town. It wasn’t long before the whole Arabian Peninsula had heard about the religion. This helped unify the Arabian peninsula which let the next factor of military conquest even take place.

Trade was a large part in why Islam spread so quickly. Mecca had several trading routes. “By the middle of the sixth century… Mecca was … prosperous and important (Doc A).” They were trading through the two main empires: Byzantine and Persian. East Africa, Spain, India, and China also traded with them. Mecca being at the center of the trading system, they brought in many tourists to see the famous holy shrine. With the help of communication people interested in Islam were also drawn because goods were not just traded, but the Islamic culture as well.

Scholars also made advances in trigonometry, astronomy and mapmaking, and artists used calligraphy to decorate buildings and objects of art as well as to reflect the glory Allah (Docs 5 and 6). In a photograph of the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem, it shows the different features used from different cultures, such as the Byzantine Empire, as well as adding their own personal touches (Doc 7). All of these were preserved and used in Europe, and are even used in today’s curriculum. A lot of ideas have also been altered just a little bit, and expanded to create things that we use today. Everything that the Muslims passed on through many generations had a large impact on our modern world, and even the places around the Islamic Empire during that time period. A book mentioned before said “In the early 800s, Caliph-al-Ma’mun opened in Baghdad...the House of Wisdom. There, scholars of different cultures, and beliefs worked...translating texts from Greece, India, Persia, and elsewhere into Arabic.” The photograph of the Dome that was also talked about before shows what an impact the inventions made did for the Muslims. A trade route was created later on which says “Masters of the sea, even as of the land, the Arabs spread throughout the geographical area.” (Doc 9). Lastly, an excerpt described the benefits that the Europeans received from Muslim industries. “Finally our commercial vocabulary itself has preserved...proofs that there was a

Islam spread quickly because of trade. “By the middle of the sixth century… Mecca was… prosperous and important.” (Document A). Mecca was a busy town that was always filled with travelers who would go on to spread the word of Islam. “First it

The trade between Islam and many other countries helped spread Islam. Trade leads to a good economy meaning more jobs (less unemployment). As people move around to trade they sometimes stay they traded to causing the spread of

In the “Arabian Peninsula Trade Routes” (Doc. A) it shows how Mecca was very busy with all kinds of trade. Since Mecca is where Islam would start in the upcoming years, traders would come and go taking the teachings of Muhammad with them. Mecca was both the center of trade and the center of Islam which leads to the quick spread of faith through the many traders and merchants that

Islam also spread because people like their government. They had people who were called caliphs who did a great job. They also sang Hymns which the people loved and they signed up.

As history continues, many religions have had an over powering effect on western civilization. When the 5th century arose, the religion, Islam, had an extremely important impact on the civilization. Muhammad, an Arabic prophet founded Islam and began to introduce it the people of his time. Diplomacy, violence, warfare, public laws, and Arabic tradition played a crucial role in the building of the Islamic religion. These important aspects helped shape and build the Islam religion that is now one of the world’s most widely practiced religions.