One of the world’s greatest cultural contact experiences in history involved the spread of Islam from its original base to the Middle East and Arabian Peninsula to a host of areas in Europe, Asia, and Africa (Hill, 23). Islam appealed to people from a variety of cultures and societies and brought important changes because of the contact and often in some respect merging with the already established local belief systems. Muslims established new cultural contacts from 700 CE because of far-reaching trade, conquests, and missionary activity (Hill, 23). The Muslim world’s dimensions were well established by 1450 CE. Islam’s spread was gradual but rapid given the diverse regions and extensive geography involved.
A century after Prophet Muhammad’s death, the Islam Empire extended from Spain to India in the west. Significant empires such as Fatimid’s, Abbasids, Ajuraan, Amoravids, Mungals, Safavids, and ottomans became among the most distinguished and influential powers in the world (Hill, 63). Islamic civilization created many cultural centers produced notable astronomers, scientists, doctors, mathematicians, and philosophers in the Islam Golden Age.
Two major patterns were involved as Islam spread. In some cases, the spread to other cultures was a result of military conquest; however, the religion tolerated other beliefs. Muslims rarely forced people in the new regions to convert to their religion. They often preferred to levy a special tax instead on the minority communities. The famous holy war or jihad described by the prophet Muhammad was used for defense of the faith and not forced conversions, although there were exceptions (Woolf, 112). The success of Muslim colonies could create a context that other people would be lured to convert or the people would find the religion attractive because simply because of its manifest triumph and power. In other cases, Islam spread because of spontaneous conversions as people learned about it through mission activities and trade. Clearly, the religion was attractive with its set of beliefs about what should be done and what should not be done in order to secure access to heaven thus avoiding a lamentable eternity in hell (Woolf, 112). The religion appealed to lower-class groups because it was committed to spiritual equality and charity. The religion legitimized merchant activity more than most belief systems at the time in order to attract traders. The political and cultural achievements of Islam made people eager to advance their societies in many ways including religion.
Islam had begun to spread rapidly among Arabs by the time of Muhammad's death in the year 632 CE. This rapid growth helped rally Arabs to a conquest and armies spread quickly through the Middle East, Persia, and through the Byzantine Empire held out through among reduced Asian territory (Hill, 154). The North of Africa was also an early conquest. The caliphate, a loose central government, was established for the North Africa -West Asian Heartland by Muhammad’s successors. The government lasted up to the 13th century. For a long time, Arabs sought to reserve Islam for their people alone, but tolerating other religions at the same time. (Hill, 155) However, many in the conquered regions wanted access some of them even adopting Arab culture and language in the process. Conquests by Arabs slowly turned into a more general spread of the Islam religion in the Middle East, Europe and North Africa.
Islam in Asia (Middle East)
The Middle East had for long been a center of trade with Africa, Asia and Europe alike. Muslims and Arabs gains spurred more efforts in order to achieve additional wealth aided by the approval of Islam on merchant activity leavened by charity. The Muslim traders spread beyond the caliphate leaving new cultural contacts in their trail (Hill, 160). Eventually, changes in Islam galvanized more extensive and active spiritual leadership. After 900 CE, a movement called Sufism came to power. This new movement emerged gradually and was fully recognized in about 1200 CE. The Sufi leaders wanted a stricter focus on piety and religion. Characteristically, Sufi leaders aimed to spread the Islam beliefs to new regions (Woolf, 212). Their holy devotion and enthusiasm helped persuade new people as these leaders showed how to bridge the gap between Allah and ordinary mortals.
In many areas, conversion involved migrating to a center governed by the Arabs. Converters encountered discrimination if they remained in their original homes. As the conversion spread in the 9th century, urbanization grew in other regions such as Iran, Nishapur, and Syria. Islam covered all aspects of urban life (Woolf, 222). At first, the new Muslims copied Arab dressing and customs. Because of the absence of a centralized religious authority, people begun to practice Islam and hadith attributed to Prophet Muhammad. This development allowed the rapidly expanding religion flexibly to accommodate the many different local situations.
Islam in Europe
The rise of Islam caused fear and hatred in Christian Europe, which led to a powerful and long superior rival. European crusaders sought to win back Europe (the holy land) from Muslims, though they were successful only for a brief period. Hostility to Islam has remained a major topic in European history to present the date. Muslims often criticized European crudeness and backwardness (Woolf, 226). When Europe became powerful, the often avoided opportunities for interactions and imitation. However, significant contacts took place. Muslims made two significant sweeps in Europe. The first sweep created an important cultural blend, and the second one created a durable branch of Muslims still active to date.
The conquests to Spain followed the Arabs sweep through North Africa in the 17th century. Conquests in Spain were complete in the northeast by 732 CE. The Muslim period in Spain had vital consequences (Hill, 219) Muslim rulers created an elaborate cultural and political framework and still tolerated Christian subjects. A good number of Spaniards converted under the influence of Islam success in conquest (Woolf, 226). Spanish decoration and architecture styles were long influenced by Muslim artistic styles even long after Muslims were forced out. Music, especially the guitar originally an Arab instrument merged traditions as well.
Islam in North Africa
Islam reached northern Africa (south of the Sahara) in two ways. Majority of the interactions took place during the postclassical period although minority of Africans converted. North Africa however religiously infused with the Middle East. By the late 20th century, around 40% of all North Africa’s were Muslims (Woolf, 228). North African city-states lost independence after the Fatimid dynasty established itself in Tunisia in 909. When they consolidated their hold in northwest Africa, the Fatimid dynasty culminated their rule by conquering Egypt in 969 CE. They claimed the title caliph as a direct challenge to Abbasids and governed from a palace outside the city of Fustat. They later named the region Cairo (Woolf, 228). Because of the conquest, Egypt became a major intellectual, cultural and intellectual political center of Islam.
There exist similarities and differences among these regions in the areas of political/legal, social, religious, economic and external influence factors. These factors are discussed below in the different regions in Middle East, North Africa, and Europe. In Asia Specifically the Middle East, political factors include adoption of the Sharia laws governs most of the countries they are not regular and democratic elections in the regions and most of the leaders in the countries are termed as tyrants. They are also unstable are in constant threat of coups and uprising. In terms of economic factors, the Islamic states in the region are economically strong due to vast oil deposits. They over rely on oil and oil alone, other economic activities like manufacture, tourism and farming are minimal due to lack of decentralization and proper governance. Resources and companies are mostly government controlled and owed and the leaders take the state resources as their own and most of them check and balances are non-existence. In terms of religious factors the region is predominantly Muslim region and few pockets of Christianity exists in some of the countries like Lebanon. When it comes to social factors in the Middle East states are very conservative states. Women and children have little or no role in important matters of the society, language is predominantly Arabic with any interactions mainly being on religious grounds. When it comes to external factors, countries in the Middle East mainly interact amongst themselves and any other external engagement comes in the process of mining and export of oil.
In the African continent specifically in the northern part, politically, Islam laws are operated concurrently with those of other religions. The leadership consists of leaders from different religious groupings except few countries predominantly Muslim states like Libya. In the recent past most of these states have experience political violence and change of governments as aresult of uprisings. These countries are in the process of adopting democratic practices after successfully managing to topple tyrants they had been ruling them. In terms of economic factors, large parts of these countries sit on the Sahara desert and therefore their land is less productive. They however have substantial oil deposits which they rely on for their economic advancement. Most of the countries border Mediterranean Sea and have some prehistoric sites which attract tourism. When it comes to religious factors, the region is home to various religious groups though the majorities are Muslim. Egypt for example, large of its population is of Christian denomination. In terms of Social factors, the region is much more liberal. This is as a result of a bit of interaction brought about by the tourists. Languages like English and Spanish have been adopted in addition to Arabic and other local dialects. In terms of external factors, Interaction is diverse but majority of it is directed to other Islamic states mainly in the Middle East.
In the Europe continent mainly in Spain, Politically Islam does not play part in any of the leadership of the country. The country is a monarchy with freedom of religious faith being a personal choice. Economically, Spain is a developed country or a fast world country though in the recent past it is having some economic difficulties. Tourism and other economic activities are widespread. In the religious aspects, the country is currently predominantly a Christian state. Socially, Spain’s culture is one of the most wide-spread and adopted in the world. Spanish language is an internationally accepted language spoken by millions of people. External influences come from its vast economic partners and European Union in particular.
The three regions experience economic inequality, growth, and income inequality. Majority of North African countries are third world, experience poverty, and have poor GDP’s. Middle East countries also partially experience as a similar case, and, however, some of the countries are rich in oil that boosts their economy. Europe however is one of the world’s economic hubs with low poverty levels and a growing GDP. The majority of the aspect or factors are distinctive in the three regions. Therefore the In view of the distinctiveness, the connected empire was not really achieved.
Works Cited
Hill, Fred J, and Nicholas Awde. A History of the Islamic World. New York: Hippocrene Books, 2003. Print.
Woolf, D R. A Global History of History. Cambridge: Cambridge UP, 2011. Print.
