Diffusion of Religion and Language Practice Test

A historian writes that Islam expanded rapidly from the Arabian Peninsula in the 7th–8th centuries through military conquest and the establishment of new administrative centers, but also spread more gradually along Indian Ocean trade routes where merchants and Sufi teachers introduced Islamic ideas in port cities. Over time, local customs influenced Islamic practice in different regions. Which option best characterizes the diffusion described?

Secondary source excerpt: A cultural geographer explains that Hinduism is strongly associated with South Asia because many of its sacred landscapes, pilgrimage circuits, and ritual obligations are tied to specific places and community traditions. Diaspora communities may build temples abroad, but the religion’s core practices remain closely connected to regional identities and do not typically emphasize converting outsiders. Which conclusion best fits the pattern described?