"While some remained faithful to Christianity, Judaism, and other religions, many people in conquered lands chose to convert to the new religion. Others were converted by force, or under the threat of crippling taxes. Elsewhere, Muslim merchants carried the new faith to people living along the trade routes of Asia and Africa. Islam united Muslims from many Lands and fostered the growth of trade. Muslims had a basic duty to make a pilgrimage, or journey, to the holy city of Mecca at least once in their lives. Every year, people from across the Muslim world traveled to Mecca. Muslims from North Africa, Persia, Afghanistan, India, Spain, and West Africa crowded Mecca's dusty streets. They prayed in Arabic, the Language of Islam. This regular travel encouraged trade among the Muslim lands." Based on this excerpt from the text, how did Islam affect trade in the Middle East? * (A)...It expanded trade by spreading the Arabic language and opening up routes from many countries to Mecca. (B)...It minimized trade as merchants focused on Islamic missionary work.(C)...It increased trade by threatening the influence of Christianity in the region.(D)...It restricted trade by encouraging Muslims to reject the need for material possessions.