Growth of Muslim Population in Medieval India, A.D. 1000–1800 c23.39

c23.39

It will be observed that in Group A the regions which had a large Muslim population about the end of the fifteenth century, became Muslim-majority areas as years went by. In Group B regions the Muslims were in lesser numbers and continued to remain so. Group C is interesting. In the fifteenth century, the western coast region had a large Muslim population, but from the sixteenth century onwards Portuguese traders began to oust Muslim merchants and Portuguese and other Christian missions outstripped Muslims in proselytizing activity (many Muslims themselves becoming Christians), so that in years to come Muslim numbers fell. Group D illustrates the fact that in a princely state under British rule, if the ruler was a Hindu, proselytization to Islam did not find encouragement. If he was a Muslim, the number of Muslims grew.