Final answer:
The Maldives converted to Islam through peaceful missionary efforts and trade relations, influenced by merchants and Sufi teachers who adapted Islam to local traditions. Military invasion was not a primary factor in the spread of Islam in this region.
Step-by-step explanation:
Conversion of Maldives to Islam
The Maldives converted to Islam primarily through peaceful missionary efforts and trade relations. This conversion process was part of a larger trend in the Indian Ocean region during the early 1600s, where Islam became the dominant religion through the influences of merchants and Sufi teachers. These Sufi religious teachers were known for adapting Islam to local religious traditions, which facilitated peaceful conversion, as opposed to military invasions. Likewise, merchants in the Maldives were keen to convert to establish better connections with the Islamic merchant network spanning India, Persia, Arabia, and Africa, taking advantage of the protections of Islamic law.
In the case of the Indian Ocean and Maldives, military invasion was not a primary factor in the spread of Islam. Instead, it spread largely through the interaction of local populations with Islamic traders and religious teachers. As for the Maldives specifically, there is no significant historical evidence that military invasion by neighboring countries, treaties with European powers, or alliances with African kingdoms played a role in their conversion to Islam.