Final answer:
Jewish and Christian Armenian merchants were significant traders alongside Muslims, managing commerce across various regions and trading in goods, technologies, and culture.
Step-by-step explanation:
Muslims controlled trade in Asia and Africa for almost 700 years. During this time, another significant group involved in extensive trading was the Jewish merchant community, which established networks between Europe, North Africa, the Middle East, and South Asia. They became prominent as moneylenders and bankers, a position facilitated in part due to their exemption from Sharia, which forbade charging interest on loans. The Christian Armenians were also notable participants, specifically in the silk trade, and their contributions to major trade centers were highly regarded. This trade was not limited to goods; it also involved the exchange of ideas, technologies, and culture.