In 24 chapters, this volume explores the spread of Islam and the process of Islamisation over 11 centuries of its history: both conversion to Islam and the adoption of Muslim culture. Taking a broad, comparative perspective, the volume addresses key questions. What is meant by Islamisation? How far was the spread of Islam as a religion bound up with the spread of Muslim culture? To what extent are Islamisation and conversion parallel processes? How is Islamisation connected to Arabisation? What role do vernacular Muslim languages play in the promotion of Muslim culture? Discover both the historical trajectory of Islamisation and the methodological problems in its study, with coverage moving from Africa to China and from the 7th century to the start of the colonial period in 1800.