The Spread of Islam Through Trade

The Spread of Islam Through Trade

An academic paper focusing on trade/geography and how it helped spread Islam around the world using trade routes that were already in place. These routes helped spread Islam very quickly through what is now Saudi Arabia and Yemen.

This analysis was conducted across countries and across ethnic groups and establishes that proximity to the pre-600 CE (-22 Hijri) trade network is a robust predictor of today's Muslim adherence in the Old World. This text also shows that Islam spread successfully in regions that are ecologically similar to the birthplace of the religion, the Arabian Peninsula. Namely, territories characterized by a large share of arid and semi- arid regions dotted with few pockets of fertile land are more likely to host Muslim communities. We discuss the various mechanisms that may give rise to the observed pattern.

Academic Paper