Final answer:
The assertion that only individual traders were allowed into the Arabian Peninsula is not accurate, as trade was a significant aspect of life there, including trade caravans. Trade helped to expand the reach of Islam, and markets were uniformly managed under Sharia law.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that large groups were banned from exploring the Arabian peninsula, but individual traders were allowed in the territory, is not entirely accurate. Throughout history, the Arabian Peninsula was home to various tribes and peoples, with trade being a significant aspect of life, particularly after the rise of Islam. In the Islamic world, trade helped to expand the reach of Islam, as it became closely regulated, with the taxes on imported goods systematized, and markets were inspected and administered uniformly under the Sharia. While specifics of access varied in different historical periods, trade caravans, not just individual traders, were a common sight, and the Arabian Peninsula was well-known as a crossroads for commerce.
As for the Islamic world's trade practices, Muslim traders often relied on letters of credit to avoid carrying large amounts of gold over great distances. This facilitated the widespread trade network that extended from the Middle East to the African continent, where trade indeed united various empires and cultures. The Islamic world and the Arabian Peninsula were, thus, integral to the historical development of global trade routes and the spreading of ideas and religions, including Islam.