Which of the following statements concerning the Muslim economy at the beginning of the 18th century is most accurate?
a. The Muslim economy remained dependent on Arab merchants who traded predominantly with Africa.
b. By holding the Europeans at bay, the Muslims were able to capitalize an indigenous industry based on the production of cotton textiles.
c. The discovery of new resources caused a resurgence of Ottoman economic power.
d. Merchants within the empire, especially those who were Jews or Christians, grew more dependent on commercial dealings with European counterparts.
e. The prosperity of the industrial base of the Muslim empires led to a close alliance between the artisans and the government.
Answer: D