In what ways was Islam affected by the Silk Road trade routes?

The term Silk Road, coined by 19th-century German explorer Ferdinand von Richtofen, refers to a loose network of overland trade routes stretching from the ... While the Silk Road was a two-way route, most of its movement was eastward, carrying Buddhism, Zoroastrianism, Judaism, and later, Islam. read more

Nevertheless, Islam remained a minority religion along the Silk Road until after the overland trade routes started to decline. It wasn’t until the eleventh century that the Karakhanids established the first Muslim kingdom in Central Asia, at a time when the Silk Road had already fallen behind sea routes in volume and value of goods transported. read more

Although trade of goods was an important factor in the spread of Islam throughout Africa and Asia, the European slave trade was important as well, particularly in the southern region of Africa, and South Africa specifically. read more

While the Silk Road was a two-way route, most of its movement was eastward, carrying Buddhism, Zoroastrianism, Judaism, and later, Islam. By the 8th century, Muslims stopped thinking of religion geographically and began seeking converts along the Silk Road. read more

Known as the Silk Road, this vast expanse of intercultural trade routes traversed Eurasia from the Mediterranean all the way to Japan, crossing into India on the way. Textiles, spices and even religions were all exchanged along the Silk Road starting around 1,000 B.C. and continuing for several millenniums. read more