How did islam influence the middle east?

After the death of the prophet Muhammand, Islamic Culture invaded most of the Middle East and pieces of Spain, which unified their economic culture.

The Middle East and Islam seem inseparable. Islam, through its expansion, unified the Middle East both economically and, at times, politically. The Middle East has been and still is more than just Islam, but it's impossible to deny the substantial influence the religion has had on the region and the fact that Islam has become a convenient way to define the region.