Abbasid Decline and the Spread of Islamic Civilization to South and Southeast Asia

Trading Contacts and Conversion

•Peaceful contacts and voluntary conversion were more important to the spread of Islam than conquest and force.

•Trading contacts prepared the way for conversion, with the process carried forward by Sufis.

•The first conversions occurred in small northern Sumatran ports.

•On the mainland the key to the spread of Islam was the city of Malacca, the smaller successor to Shrivijaya.

•From Malacca Islam went to Malaya, Sumatra, and the state of Demak on Java's north coast.