Final answer:
Trade routes played a vital role in the syncretism of religions before 1200. Islamic merchants, missionaries, and scholars travelled along the trade routes, spreading Islam and exchanging knowledge and ideas with different regions. The trade-based diffusion of Islamic culture led to the emergence of powerful states like Indonesia.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the years leading up to 1200, trade routes played a crucial role in the syncretism of religions. The movement facilitated by trade routes allowed for the spread of different religious ideas, practices, and beliefs. Islamic merchants, missionaries, and scholars traveled along the trade routes, spreading Islam and exchanging knowledge and ideas with people of different regions. For example, Muslim sailors dominated trade in the Indian Ocean, spreading Islamic culture to places like the Malabar Coast in India and the Swahili coast in eastern Africa. The trade-based diffusion of Islamic culture also led to the emergence of powerful states like Indonesia with a large Muslim population today.