A nations power based on wealth is called is usually referred to as GDP, or "Gross Domestic Product" (if I'm understanding the question correctly. Although this isn't always a great indicator of the fundamental "health" of the country.<span />
Islam then spread slowly in much of the continent through trade and preaching. During this period these Muslims from Northand West Africa came to be known by Europeans at large as Moors and weredepicted by Europeans as black, swarthy or tawny in skin color.
It was the Enlightenment principles of "A. John Locke" that Thomas Jefferson build upon when he drafted the Declaration of Independence. He had read these works at a very young age.
It was one of the reasons for the big revolt that led to america becoming its own country
