alternatehistory.com

While Islam has a reputation of being a religion spread by the sword, in some areas, such as Africa and southeast Asia, it largely spread through trade links and cultural interaction.

Now suppose that the incredible good timing that the Arab armies of Islam had in overwhelming the Persians and taking a fair chunk of the Eastern Roman Empire had been slightly off. The Romans and Persians perhaps beat each other down a bit less, so that they are able to meet and repell the Arab invaders.

Now, in this scenario where there initial expansion has been stifled, just how successful could Islam be? Could Arab traders still spread their faith down the east African coast and across to the Indies? What would the lack of Persian and Byzantine cultural infusion do to the development of the religion? How much would a purely Arab faith, spread abroad by merchants, differ from what we know?
Top