How did Islamic civilization spread to encompass such an extensive empire? What practices or methods were used to spread Islam? I am in AP World...

In
order to respond to the prompt with a direct, concise thesis, I recommend "flipping"
the prompt into a sentence starter. A strong thesis could begin, "Islamic civilization
spread to encompass such a large empire through _________."

Although I
don't have the exact documents you need to reference in your DBQ, there are some overarching
ideas that will likely guide you in the right direction.

Religious and Political Conquest

As
with most any civilization, Islamic civilization was significantly spread through military
power. Strong armies, as well as a strong Muslim belief in spreading the faith, led to the
conquering of many surrounding areas and lands.

Peaceful
Conversion

While religious fervor was sometimes expressed
through militaristic action, it could also be used for peaceful conversion. This brought many
people (and their lands) into the empire.

Strong
Governance

Islamic civilization was also known for having
strong governments. These governments kept the empire stable while also...