What influence did early Muslim traders have on Europe and North Africa? Give three examples of cultural changes brought by traders from the Muslim world.

Answer:

Responses may vary but should include some or all of the following information: Muslim traders connected European and North African merchants with the Far East and Asian trade routes. They often traded spices, silk, and cotton textiles. They also traded ideas, including advanced mathematics, chess, and Arabic numerals. The Arabic language and the Islamic faith spread rapidly in North Africa. Today, Arabic is the official language in all North African countries and Islam is the most common religion.