South+East+Asia

=South East Asia =
 * How did Islam spread? **
 * Southeast Asia consisted of many islands, but served as a central area for great interaction between different nations. It connected nations of different regions around the eastern hemisphere. Goods would be exchanged and brought back to their native homes. Some major trading centers that were a result of that was Sumatra and Malaya.
 * The major factor that allowed Islam to spread in this area was due to the trading routes. After converting India, it led the spread of Islam to South East Asia due to trade.
 * While the Islamic merchants and sailors traveled to Southeast Asia for trade, they also introduced the natives to their religion, about its ideals, etc.
 * They also brought Sufis to the area and try to win converts by showing their deep devotion to god and trying to be closer to him.
 * Islam's spread to Southeast Asia from India was partly due to the efforts of Sufis thus of mixing mystic strains, ideals from Buddhism and Hinduism while tolerating idea of animists.
 * The Muslims merchants, sailors, etc in Malaya would then try to convert the natives from the different ports.
 * Women gain more liberty and better positions in life. Female merchants dominated regional and local markets, and giving dowries to the wife continued.

__Summary __ The main reason Islam was able to spread to South East Asia was due trade. It was located in the center area that connected China and its relationships with Europe, and India. Many goods from different regions would be exchanged and brought back to their native areas. As a result, the creations of major trading centers were Malaya and Sumatra. The spread of Islam to India led the spread to South East Asia because of the trade, and the social exchange of ideals, beliefs, and such. The major cause of the spread was due to the fall of the trading empire of Srivijaya, where the new central trading area shifted to the Straight of Malacca between cities, Sumatra and Malaya. Before the fall of the empire, Muslims were free to convert others at the ports, but at the time, the officials were Buddhists, so being a Muslim in this area had no benefits. Merchants and sailors bought Sufis to South East Asia, so that they could convert others to Islam too. The Sufis promoted Islam by showing others of their deep devotion to god and their attempt to try getting closer to him, they were seen as mystics. Other Muslims tried to convert others by telling them of how the world has already converted to this religion, so they should too (conformity). They also faced opposition from Hindu-Buddhism kingdoms since the religions were deeply rooted here before the spread of Islam. Signs of syncretism were that the native converts were allowed to practice their beliefs and rituals before Islam that were considered unorthodox. Also with the mix of interactions between nations, shadow puppets native to Java integrated with Indian epics. The architecture in South East Asia was influenced by the Islamic religion, so that there would be less or no elaborate statues, but instead they created fancy mosques. Finally, women had more liberty and freedom in this area because of the fact that female merchants dominated the market place. Dowries were also given to the wife instead of the husband. Islam spread to South East Asia allowed a synthesis of ideals, cultures, etc.

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=By: Jenny=