As a favourite stop-over on the busy trade routes, the Maldives have had many visitors and influences, trading with Arabia, China and Indiawith coconut, dried fish and above all the precious cowry shell, a small white shell found on the beach, used as currency in countries near the Indian Ocean. These shells were found as far away as Norway or West Africa showing the extent of the trade relations of the Maldives.
 

Conversion to Islam
Mohamed Ibn Batuta, a Moroccan traveller who visited the Maldives in the 14th century recorded an interesting legend on how the country converted to Islam. Abul Barakaath Yoosuf Al Barbary, an Islamic scholar, visited the Maldives during a time when people lived in fear of the "Rannamaari", a sea-demon, who came out of the sea once a month threatening to destroy everything unless a virgin was sacrificed. The unfortunate young girls were chosen by lot, had to stay in a temple near the seashore and were found raped and dead in the morning.

The daughter of the house he was staying at had been selected to be the victim and he decided to save her. Disguised as a girl he spent the night in the temple reciting continuously from the Holy Koran. In the morning when people went to find out the fate of the chosen girl they were amazed to find him alive and still reciting the Koran. When the King found out that the demon had been defeated through the power of the Holy Koran he embraced Islam and ordered all the subjects to follow him.