Final answer:
Islam spread in several regions through trade systems and military conquests. Trade routes had a significant influence on the spread of Islam in Africa, southeastern Europe, India, and Southeast Asia. Conversely, military conquests spread Islam throughout the Arabian Peninsula, the region of the Levant, and North Africa.
Step-by-step explanation:
Islam spread in various regions of the old world through both trade systems and military conquests. In regions like West and East Africa, southeastern Europe, India, and Southeast Asia, trade played a significant role in the spread of Islam. Goods moving along numerous trade routes and through markets overseen by Muslim market inspectors contributed to the diffusion of Islamic influence.
Regions where Islam spread through military conquest include the Arabian Peninsula, the region of the Levant, and Byzantine Egypt. From here, the Islamic military advanced to conquer North Africa. Yet, traders and scholars continued to spread the religion throughout Africa and beyond, including areas like Gao and Koumbi Saleh, the capital of the Ghana Empire, primarily through the trans-Saharan trade routes. As a result, diverse parts of the globe began to adopt and adapt to Islamic practices through both conquests and commercial activities.
In addition, the Indian Ocean maritime networks played a significant role in spreading Islam eastward. Muslim sailors managed to penetrate the Malabar Coast of western India and the Swahili coast of eastern Africa, all the way to China and beyond. Consequently, through multiple points of interactions such as commercial exchange, intermarriages, and shared values, Islam spread far beyond the reach of its military.
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