Question

Measure how far Islam has spread east & west from Mecca.

Answer 1

Islam originated in Mecca, in present-day Saudi Arabia, in the 7th century CE. Since then, it has spread widely across the globe, both east and west.

### Eastward Spread

1. **South Asia**:
- Islam reached the Indian subcontinent through trade and invasions as early as the 7th century. By the 12th century, it had established significant presence in areas like present-day Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh.
- Notable centers of Islamic culture emerged, including the Delhi Sultanate and later the Mughal Empire.

2. **Southeast Asia**:
- Trade routes facilitated the arrival of Islam to regions like Indonesia and Malaysia.
- By the 13th century, Islam became the dominant religion in many parts of the Malay Archipelago, with Indonesia today being the country with the largest Muslim population.

3. **Central Asia**:
- Islam spread into Central Asia relatively quickly after its inception, particularly through the conquests of the Umayyad and Abbasid caliphates.
- Countries such as Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Kazakhstan became integral parts of the Islamic world.

### Westward Spread

1. **North Africa**:
- The rapid expansion occurred after the death of Prophet Muhammad in 632 CE, with Arab armies spreading Islam across North Africa within a century.
- By the 8th century, much of North Africa was predominantly Muslim, leading into the establishment of the powerful Islamic Caliphates.

2. **Spain and Portugal**:
- Islam reached the Iberian Peninsula (modern-day Spain and Portugal) in the early 8th century, leading to a significant Islamic presence.
- The Umayyad Caliphate in Al-Andalus lasted for several centuries, influencing culture, science, and architecture.

3. **Subsequent Influence in Europe**:
- After the Reconquista (the centuries-long process of Christian reconquest), Islam's presence in Europe diminished significantly, but Muslim states still existed in the Balkan Peninsula (regardless of the decline).

### Global Spread

Today, Islam is one of the world’s major religions, with approximately 1.9 billion followers. The global reach of Islam extends from:

- **East**: Indonesia (over 270 million Muslims) to parts of South Asia (Bangladesh, Pakistan).
- **West**: from North Africa to parts of Europe and even into the Americas, where Muslim communities have established from the 19th century onward through immigration.

In summary, Islam has spread extensively in both eastward and westward directions from its origin in Mecca, leading to a vast and diverse global presence today.