<![CDATA[This study examines the role of Gujarat, Arab, and Chinese trade networks in the Islamization process of the Nusantara archipelago from the 13th to the 16th centuries. Employing a historical approach, it analyzes travelers' accounts, archaeological artifacts, and classical manuscripts to explore how commercial interactions between foreign traders and local communities served as primary channels for the spread of Islam. The findings indicate that Gujarati traders acted as the main agents of Islamization through trade routes from the Malabar Coast to Malay port cities. Arab traders reinforced religious identity via marriages and Sufi networks, while Muslim Chinese traders particularly during Zheng He's expeditions strengthened diplomatic and commercial ties that accelerated the process. The integration of these three trade networks created a dynamic and multicultural model of Islamization, distinct from coercive conversion patterns in other regions.]]>
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