ABSTRACT
The main focus of this book is the intersection of Islamic and Indian Ocean histories; the main purpose is to illustrate relationships among ideology, culture, and economics. The intersection is potentially a rich area for research but is complicated by subspecialty boundaries, the huge expanses of time and space, and linguistic challenges. Despite these difficulties, there is a growing body of relevant scholarly literature. Such research has generated questions that help to shape this book: What were the relationships between littoral Asia and land-based empires? How can we best explain the role played by West Europeans in the Indian Ocean region, particularly in relation to Muslims? What difference did it make to be a Muslim merchant?
