MUSLIM CULTURES IN THE INDIAN OCEAN

This book explores the role of Islam in forming and transforming interconnectivity across the Indian Ocean World from a longue dur e perspective, highlighting the centrality of Muslim cultures in understanding global interactions and local agencies. It presents 15 case studies across Ethiopia, Gujarat, Java, Kerala, the Malay-Indonesian archipelago, Maldives, Oman, Tanzania, Zanzibar, and the Persianate cultural zone.

Format: Hardback
Publication date: 28 February 2022
Publisher: EDINBURGH UNIVERSITY PRESS

Introduction:
The Indian Ocean World has long been a hub of cultural, economic, and political activity, with its diverse populations and complex histories shaping the region's interconnectedness. The role of Islam in forming and transforming this interconnectedness is a topic of significant interest, as Muslim cultures have played a central role in understanding global interactions and local agencies across the Indian Ocean. This book explores the role of Islam in forming and transforming global interactions and local agencies across the Indian Ocean, offering intra-Muslim perceptions of beliefs, practices, and activities, both religious and other.
The Centrality of Muslim Cultures in Understanding Interconnectivity:
The Indian Ocean World has been shaped by the presence of Muslim cultures for centuries, and the study of Islam's role in forming and transforming global interactions and local agencies is essential to understanding the region's complex history. Muslim cultures have played a central role in shaping the region's trade, commerce, and cultural exchange, and their influence can be seen in the development of maritime networks, the spread of Islam, and the establishment of Muslim empires.
Islam's Role in Forming and Transforming Global Interactions:
Islam has played a significant role in forming and transforming global interactions across the Indian Ocean World. The spread of Islam in the region has facilitated the exchange of ideas, knowledge, and technology, and has helped to establish networks of trade and commerce that have connected different parts of the world. Muslim communities have also played a central role in the development of international law and diplomacy, with the Islamic legal system, known as Sharia, influencing the legal systems of many countries in the region.
Intra-Muslim Perceptions of Beliefs, Practices, and Activities:
To better understand the role of Islam in forming and transforming global interactions and local agencies across the Indian Ocean, it is essential to examine intra-Muslim perceptions of beliefs, practices, and activities. This book presents 15 case studies across Ethiopia, Gujarat, Java, Kerala, the Malay-Indonesian archipelago, the Maldives, Oman, Tanzania, Zanzibar, and the Persianate cultural zone. These case studies offer a diverse range of perspectives on the role of Islam in shaping local agencies and global interactions, and provide a valuable insight into the complex and multifaceted nature of Muslim communities in the region.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, this book examines the role of Islam in forming and transforming global interactions and local agencies across the Indian Ocean World from a longue dur e perspective. By highlighting the centrality of Muslim cultures in understanding interconnectivity, this book offers a valuable contribution to the study of the Indian Ocean World and its complex history. The case studies presented in this book provide a rich and detailed account of the role of Islam in shaping local agencies and global interactions, and offer a valuable insight into the diverse and complex nature of Muslim communities in the region.

ISBN-13: 9781474486491