Spread of Islam

As the Islam religion began to spread, it began to become a unifying cultural and economic force over Eurasia and Africa. There were many causes to why the Islam religion spread. These causes include trade, the Quran, people of high ranking, and educational institutions. Trade was a major influence on the economic side of Islam religion. For instance, trade led to the spread of food and industrial crops. Some of the new crops included staple foods such as sugarcane, rice, new varieties of sorghum and wheat, spinach, artichokes, eggplants, oranges, lemons, lime, bananas, coconuts, watermelons, and mangoes. Industrial crops included cotton, indigo, and henna. As new crops were being introduced, new agricultural methods were introduced as well. For example, irrigation, fertilization, and crop rotation were new methods used by cultivators. As a result, the combined effect of new crops and improved techniques was a far more productive agricultural economy, which in turn supported vigorous economic growth throughout dar al-Islam. Since the 7th century C.E., the Quran has served as the cornerstone of Islamic society. It established Arabic as a flexible and powerful medium of communication. In other words, Arabic text was the only definitive and reliable scripture of the Quran. So as Muslim missionaries spread the message of Allah, Arabic text began to become familiar to different societies. The Quran was also used by Muslim theologians and jurists who needed guidance on how to formulate moral guidelines appropriate for their society. As a result, the Islamic law came about. Islamic law established a common cultural foundation that facilitated dealings between peoples of various Islamic lands and that also lent substance to the concept of dar al-Islam. Islamic values were promoted in various ways. One way was by the people who were called ulama, qadis, and missionaries. These people promoted Islamic values by resolving disputes according to Islamic law and