1. Arabia: Islam originated in the Arabian Peninsula, specifically in Mecca and Medina in present-day Saudi Arabia. From there, it spread throughout the Arabian Peninsula and became the dominant religion in the region.
2. North Africa: Islam expanded westward into North Africa in the 7th century. Countries like Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Algeria, and Morocco embraced Islam, and it became the primary religion in the region.
3. Middle East: From Arabia, Islam spread eastward into the Middle East, influencing countries such as Syria, Iraq, Lebanon, Jordan, and Palestine. Damascus and Baghdad became prominent centers of Islamic scholarship and learning during this period.
4. Central Asia: Islamic influence reached Central Asia in the 8th century through military conquests and missionary activities. Countries like Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Kyrgyzstan were introduced to Islam, and it eventually became the dominant religion in the region.
5. South Asia: Islam made its way into South Asia, particularly the Indian subcontinent, in the 7th century. Countries like Pakistan, Bangladesh, and parts of India (like the Sindh region) were influenced by Islamic expansion.
6. Southern Europe: While not widely adopted, Islam did impact parts of Southern Europe, reaching as far as Spain and southern France. Muslim rule in Spain from the 8th to the 15th centuries left a significant cultural and architectural legacy.
7. Southeast Asia: In the 13th century, Islam gained a foothold in Southeast Asia, mainly through trade and missionary efforts. Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei, and the southern Philippines adopted Islam as their predominant religion.
These countries served as gateways for the expansion of Islam during the Middle Ages, leading to the formation of extensive Islamic civilizations and the diffusion of religious, cultural, and scientific knowledge across vast regions.