Final answer:
Trade in Southeast Asia facilitated the spread of Islam and Buddhism, altering the region’s religious landscape. This change was driven by Muslim and Buddhist merchants, advisors, and teachers who introduced these religions through trade routes and cultural exchange.
Step-by-step explanation:
In Southeast Asia, trade significantly influenced the religious makeup of the region. With the growth of Islam, Muslim merchants on trade routes such as the Silk Roads and the Indian Ocean brought their religion to new areas. The Abbasids, who moved their capital to Baghdad, a significant location along these trade routes, helped dominate and influence this change. Trade not only carried goods but also facilitated the exchange of ideas and cultural practices, including religious beliefs.
From around 300 to 600 CE, Buddhism steadily reinforced its presence via Buddhist artwork and texts. The influence of Indian culture and Buddhism was augmented by the travels of Southeast Asians to India and the arrival of Indian elites in Southeast Asia, who established themselves as advisors and teachers, further spreading religious and cultural practices.
Trade and religious conversion were intertwined, with the decline of Hinduism's rigid caste system and the rise of Buddhism's more inclusive religious framework, appealing to a wider audience and leading to a noteworthy transformation in the region's religious landscape. This appeal facilitated the more profound integration of Buddhist practices into the daily lives of many Southeast Asians.