Justin Coppola

Comparative Civilizations
Mrs. Lucarelli
Period 5-6
The Effects of Islam in the Middle East and Southeast Asia
Islam has had many effects on the Middle East and Southeast Asia from good to bad,
from economic effects to political effects. Islam has dug its roots into the Middle East and
Southeast Asia. Speaking about the Middle East, the term was invented by an America naval
captain in the early 1900s. The term was invented for strategic plans as a line between India and
Arabia, however it has been areas like Turkey and Pakistan. The one thing all these countries
have in common is Islam as a religion. (People of Everyday Life). Islam first changed the
economy of the Middle East by opening trade roots when the Muslims conquered most of the
Middle East and some of Spain. This caused trade to flourish and created a unified economic
front and also helped the Middle East experience an economic and culture renaissance.
(People of Everyday Life). Islam also effect the people of the Middle East. Most people
in the Middle East were nomadic tribes and were polytheistic, and had views based of
polytheism. The belief in many gods led to many politically different views. (Organization and
Impact of Islam). Islam changed these views to monotheism views. In Anatolia, modern Turkey,
this caused the tribes to come together and become stronger in the name of Allah. (Organization
and Impact of Islam).
In Southeast Asia, the story is similar. Most people in the Southeast were introduced to
Islam around a hundred years ago. (Islam: A Worldwide Religion and its Impact on Southeast
Asia). The people of Southeast Asia grabbed Islam, and ran with it. The most popular Islamic
state in Indonesia, in Southeast Asia. (Islam: A Worldwide Religion and its Impact on Southeast
Asia). Islam is a very strict religion with having rules and rituals like; having to pray five times a

day WHILE looking in the direction of a certain building. (Islam: A Worldwide Religion and its
Impact on Southeast Asia). Islam also helped the trade of many in Southeast Asia. They did this
by having Southeast Asians increasing travel outside of their home areas. They did this by
attracting people of other religions with no ties to a certain places, and they were impressed by
the wealth and power of foreign traders. (Islam: A Worldwide Religion and its Impact on
Southeast Asia). On the topic of trade, Southeast Asia and the Middle East are not only both
Islamic, Southeast Asia depends on the Middle East for energy, and they often share the same
views on some international political problems. (Islam in Asia).
Overall, Islam is a very important political, economic, and social presence in Southeast
Asia. Because trade is a great way to spread religion, and since Islam was opening many trade
doors, Islam spread like a wildfire. By the end of the eighteenth century, because of trade links,
Islam was established in many areas of Southeast Asia. Arabic sailors that visited the ports of
Southeast Asia converted to Islam. They then take it back to their counties, where the spread of
Islam becomes greater. Over and over again, we see trade being used as a way to exchanged
religions. It reminds me of when you are given food at a church, well thats what happened in my
experience, I see it as like a bridge to try to cross the gap from non-believer to believer.
All in all, Islam was and is a big and important part of the Middle East and Southeast
Asia. It effected these places with not only its religion, with economic and political plans. Trade
effected these places and it changed the way these places are now. Islam in the Middle East and
Southeast Asia is like when you upgrade from a Black Berry flip phone, to an iPhone 7, most
people love it and will do it in a heartbeat, while others like the old ways and despise the new
practices.

Works Cited
By the 7th and 8th Centuries A.D., Sailors and Ships from. "Islam, The Spread Of Islam To
Southeast Asia."Islam, The Spread Of Islam To Southeast Asia. N.p., n.d. Web. 08 Nov. 2016.
"How Has Islam Influenced the Middle East?"
Our Everyday Life. N.p., n.d. Web. 08 Nov. 2016.
"Islam in Asia." Islam in Asia. N.p., n.d. Web. 08 Nov. 2016.
"Organization and Impact of Islam." N.p., n.d. Web. 08 Nov. 2016.