Amy is writing a paper on the spread of culture through trade. Her teacher asks her to look at how Islam was spread through trade in Asia. During her research, Amy comes up with the argument that trade was better than conquest or warfare at spreading religions such as Islam. Which two pieces of evidence would support this argument? Mahmūd attacked India because of its wealth from the Silk Road trade. Islamic scholars moved from Baghdad to Delhi in 1258. The Ramayana and Mahabharata are popular subjects of Southeast Asian art. Conquering armies did not spread religion and culture efficiently. Islam reached southern India before Mahmūd attacked northern India.

Extensive trade networks throughout North and West Africa created a medium through which Islam spread peacefully, initially through the merchant class. By sharing a common religion and a common transliteralization (Arabic), traders showed greater willingness to trust, and therefore invest, in one another. The people conquered by the Muslims usually faced a choice. They could denounce their religion and convert to Islam, pay a tax to continue practicing their beliefs, become a slave, or be executed. Most chose to convert. But many people paid the tax.

Explanation:

Islam gained momentum during the 10th century in West Africa with the start of the Almoravid dynasty movement on the Senegal River and as rulers and kings embraced Islam. Islam then spread slowly in much of the continent through trade and preaching. Soon after the death of the prophet Muhammad, there were military expeditions, called "futuhat," or literally "openings," into what is now Egypt and other parts of North Africa. In other parts of the world, Islam spread through trade and commerce.