Introduction

Abstract

The conventional Eurocentric view holds that Asian religions or socio-religious systems, notably Islam, Hinduism or Confucianism, suppress or impede economic development and progress. This idea requires a substantial reassessment. In reality, religions were often very conducive to a further interconnectivity of countries and regions across the Indian Ocean World (IOW). But it was especially technological improvements and the transfer of knowledge that greatly contributed to economic developments in the macro-region. This volume investigates how specific religions, technologies and knowledge systems contributed to the further interconnectivity in the IOW.