Question

is the author of the article suggesting that the spread of islam was in some ways beneficial to africa? which selection from the article supports your response? (a) no; the religion arrived in east africa when arab traders crossed the red sea and settled along the swahili coast. in the 14th century, muslims launched military campaigns against the christian kingdoms of nubia. there was also sometimes violent resistance by supporters of traditional african beliefs such as animism and spirit worship. (b) yes; as muslim traders reached deeper into africa, the religion spread from one empire to another, taking hold first at gao and then within the ghana empire. from there, the religion spread eastward to the mali empire and the songhai empire. with the adoption of islam by the rulers of the kingdom of kanem between the 11th and 13th centuries and hausaland in the late 14th century, the religions encirclement of africa below the sahara desert was complete. (c) no; the coming of islam saw a general decline in the status of certain groups in ancient african communities. one of the chief losers were the metalworkers who had always enjoyed a mystical reverence from ordinary people because of their skills in forging metal. the same applies to those who mined such precious metals as gold and iron. (d) yes; there were several technical innovations that came with islam such as writing, numbers, mathematics, measurements and weights. muslim travelers and writers made valuable records of african life in the medieval period. these writers, along with archaeology, have helped enormously in the reconstruction of ancient africa following the european colonial period.

Explanation:

The spread of Islam to Africa brought technical innovations like writing, mathematics, measurements and weights. Muslim travelers and writers also made valuable records of African life which helped in the reconstruction of ancient Africa. These are positive aspects, so the author is suggesting the spread was beneficial.

Answer:

D. Yes; There were several technical innovations that came with Islam such as writing, numbers, mathematics, measurements and weights. Muslim travelers and writers made valuable records of African life in the medieval period. These writers, along with archaeology, have helped enormously in the reconstruction of ancient Africa following the European colonial period.