Chapter 8.4 ? The Spread of Islam to Southeast Asia Introduction Southeast Asia had been a middle ground where the Chinese part of the Eurasian trading complex met the Indian Ocean zone. Southeast Asian sailors and ships were active in the trade. When Muslims, from the eighth century, gained control of Indian commerce, Islamic culture reached Southeast Asia. The thirteenth century collapse of the trading empire of Shrivijaya, ruled by devout Buddhists and located on the Strait of Malacca and northern Sumatra, made possible large scale, peaceful Muslim entry. Trading Contacts and Conversion Peaceful conversion to Islam was more important than forceful conversion in SE Asia