Christianity and Islam on Trade
In the first through sixteenth centuries, was a major turning point for the world. Major religions such as christianity, and Islam were gaining more power and respect throughout the post-classical states. Trade was a major shift in the world as well, but little more difficult in some regions more than others. For example in Europe, the ideology of christianity made trade sound like a greedy and horrendous act while in the state of Islam they accepted greed, and did not punish it or look down on it as much as christianity did in their early stages. With this difference they are more similar than different, in the way that they both had their views evolve around the idea of trade changed as the world progressed, as well as both regions had a code of conduct to
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tell whether not an action was considered greedy or not.
Christianity and Islam had conflicting opinions when it came to trade, being the two major religions surrounding the mediterranean,the two religions held major influence when it came to trade. They were so influential that over time their ideals slowly changed as well as their audience making them similar. These ideas were eventually laws, or accepted as way to continue making a profit. In the region dominated culturally and religiously by christianity (Europe, est mediterranean had a separate idea of christianity) the ideals and beliefs regarding trade changed from deeply looked down upon, to acceptable. For instance in document three around 1170 C.E before St.Godric's death. Reginald - monk of durham, colleague to St. Godric. Reginald was a british merchant with the ideals of god in mind. In the document it stated “.... And now he had spent sixteen years as a merchant, and he began to think of spending (money) on
charity, to god’s honor and service.” this shows that the ideals of christianity were changing. Instead of becoming a devoted godsmen he decided to split it both ways and incorporate god's will with trade. Islam on the other hand became stricter as time went on regarding trade. For instance in document seven during the seventeenth century the islamic court came to a consensus that things must be distributed. In the text it states “As of old when cotton yarn comes to {town}, the aforementioned arrives, and pays an extra price… aforementioned has now acted contrary to the old custom: we do not agree with this …” We do not agree with this. This shows that the Islamic government is taking control in stopping people from monopolizing an item such as in this case - cotton - and changing their way from accepting that merchants did what they had to to make a profit. With their similarities everything must be different in one way or another in this case was their point of views. Christianity became lenient while islam became strict. In document six which was dated by an italian merchant in the fourteenth century that recorded a series of trade letters between himself and a buyer. “You know god has granted you to acquire great riches of this world” showing the general idea of trade became accepted and eventually changed so people perceived that god helped merchants. In document four the christian community became more accepting of trade around 1273 when the the leading scholastic theologian thomas aquinas stated “... no man should sell a thing to another man for more than it is worth” showing trade is becoming more acceptable. While in trade is becoming more strict in islam. For instance in document seven the islamic court decided it would be more acceptable if one man would not buy out an entire supply of a resource and make an monopoly. The document stated “the aforementioned has now acted contrary to the old custom : we do not agree with this” Showing islam is slowly moving away from their old ways of accepting deception in trade. While the two religions had their separate ideas on trade, they both had a code of conduct relating these two religions. In document one, around seventy to eighty C.E. Mathew of the new testament quoted Jesus talking to his disciples, he said “... That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven…”. These words show a general idea of what the cultural normalities in post-classical christian Europe. In document five, around the fourteenth century a leading muslim scholar by the name of Ibn Khaldun stated “... Although it be means of livelihood, yet most methods it employs are tricks aimed at making profit by securing the difference between buying and selling prices, and by appropriating the surplus. This is why religious law allows such use of these methods.” This show while it might weaken a man's morals, it is allowed because of previous laws passed making it okay culturally because the creator of the religion, was a merchant and understood the principles of needing to sell an item for profit. Both Christianity and Islam are both similar in the way that they evolved their ideals, and had a code of conduct. But with their similarities their was a difference which was their views at the start and end. Very similar to how the mongols incorporated the idea of retreating as a strategic plan rather than losing honor. This eventually made its way into modern day military strategies. While Japanese and European Chivalry like ideas differed but eventually were overcome, or changed.
Doc. Box 3 mentions confucianism. Rome worships Christianity in the world. Hinduism is technically Buddhism. These reasons explain that trade was never JUST physical items, but ideas and beliefs as well.
Geography plays a key role with trade. The fourth painting that Brook shows us is called “The Geographer”. The main focal point in this painting is the globe that is located behind the man. During this time, knowledge of geography was far from perfect, but it was drastically improving. As Brook points out, the Spanish Jesuit, Adrino de las Cortes, was a great example of the moving geography of the epoch. The ship that he led was crashed onto the rocks of the Chinese coast by 1625, right after it had departed from Manila. This was completely by mistake, as they soon discovered uncharted territory. The people who had been living there had never seen any foreign people at a close range. It surprised them to see the wide span of people they brought: African Americans, Portuguese, Muslims, Spaniards, and the list goes on. This showed that the rise of the global world did not only imply goods and material objects, but also people from all
Through analyzing the five given documents, factors affecting cultural exchange through civilizations during 1000 and 1400 A.D. are noticeably those which result in the bringing of new ideas to a different area, such as missionary work, commerce, war, and travels. As new religions sprouted throughout Europe on other expansive areas, missionaries were sent out to foreign lands. Document 1 comes from the viewpoint of a Roman Catholic missionary attempting to spread his faith by presenting a letter from the pope to the emperor of the Tatars. This shows that by converting a powerful leader to your faith, such as an emperor, it is easier for others to follow said faith. Documents 2 and 4 also emphasize how travel can be accountable for the exchange of ideas between cultures. Both Ibn Battuta and Marco Polo traveled extensive distances, stopping in various cities. Throughout their journeys, they carried their ideas with them, but were also introduced to the ideas of the people in the places they were visiting. Document 3 presents what is most likely the culprit for the increase in cultural diffusion during 1000 to 1400 A.D. War is often the reason for major cultural diffusion because, as new lands are conquered and the people of that land are put under the rule of a different people, the beliefs, traditions, and cultures of the conquerors mesh with those of the conquered. Document 5 also introduces a driving force in cultural diffusion – commerce. During this time period, many people were traders. Products made by a people are characteristics of their culture, whether it is the skill, intelligence, cleverness, or religious inclination of those people. As traders made their way to foreign lands to conduct business, whole empires were int...
All across cultures in history, varying groups of beliefs have come into contact with one another. As for early Muslims, military expansion and travel were key components for spreading the Islamic religion to foreign nations. However, not all exchanges were hostile or wholly based on the conquest of exotic lands. Some interactions solely were based on capturing lands to control, while allowing non-converters to remain in the area as the military continued forward gaining new territory. The primary sources, The Viking Rus, Peace Terms with Jerusalem, and The Pact to Be Accorded to Non-Muslim Subjects provide insight on how Muslims interacted with other religious groups. Early Muslims saw the expansion of Islam through conquest, travel, and trade with foreign cultures and beliefs, all while having unusual exchanges with each faith.
The modern world is linked through networks of communication and exchange between peoples. These exchanges between regions has changed cultures, economics, and politics. Through time the cultural influence between regions has consisted of many factors and elements but comes down to the spread of religion and religious teachings , movement of peoples, technological and cultural advancements affecting trade and commerce. Beginning with the Middle Ages in the years 1100-1500 , Africa, Asia, and Europe developed and influenced each other in several different ways. Starting with religion. The birth of Islam in the Middle East rapidly spread throughout Afro- Eurasia. Islam was attractive to people who were uninterested in the requirements of Christianity and the Church.
Laws that affected trade between merchants were lacking in strength during the medieval ages. According to The Spontaneous Evolution of Commercial Law, authored by Bruce Benson, a professor of Economics at Florida State University, Lex Mercatoria is a body of rules that emerged during medieval Europe. The fall of the Roman Empire led to a significant decline in Europe’s commercial activities. However, in the eleventh century expansion occurred in the agricultural sector of Europe. This expansion was caused by increased agricultural productivity. Workers were able to produce an adequate amount of food and clothing for the population with less labor. One result of this increase in productivity was an increase in trade. Another result was urbanization of Europe’s population. These results led to a dramatic increase in the number of professional merchants (Benson 646). Unfortunately, merchants in the eleventh century faced many challenges. The distance to other cities was a huge barrier to consistent trade. The distance between cities also made relationship building much more difficult. Merchants did not have a central language. They spoke several different languages because of their various cultural backgrounds. A multitude of middlemen could be used for one transaction between merchants. The cultural diversity also caused misunderstandings and hostility (Benson 646). The need for clear facilitation of trade between merchants from various countries. This need led to the creation of Lex Mercatoria.
“Segu is a garden where cunning grows. Segu is built on treachery. Speak of Segu outside Segu, but do not speak of Segu in Segu” (Conde 3). These are the symbolic opening words to the novel Segu by Maryse Conde. The kingdom of Segu in the eighteenth and nineteenth century represents the rise and fall of many kingdoms in the pre-colonial Africa. Therefore, Segu indirectly represents the enduring struggles, triumphs, and defeats of people who are of African decent in numerous countries around the world. There are three major historical concepts that are the focus of this book. One is the spread of the Islamic religion. Another is the slave trade, and the last is the new trade in the nineteenth century and the coming of new ideas from Europe (legitimate commerce). However, Segu does not simply explain these circumstances externally, but rather with a re-enactment that tells a story of the state of affairs on a personal level, along with the political one. By doing this, the book actually unfolds many deceitful explanations for the decline of West African countries in the eighteenth and nineteenth century.
... had control various territories. Many merchants learned the Islamic language and became custom to their traditions. This allowed for its culture to spread and Islam had received converts. The trading industry has a major effect on the economy and allows the spread of one’s culture.
Bentley, J., & Ziegler, H. (2008). Trade and encounters a global perspective on the past. (4th ed., Vol. 1, pp. 182-401). New York: McGraw-Hill.
When analyzing trade and commerce differences between Western and Eastern Europe, Islamic encouragement towards trade and commerce in Eastern Europe in the late 8th and 9th century led to the increased importation of Eastern goods into Western Europe. This increase in exotic goods ultimately increased the wealth of Western Europe and boosted its economy. This in turn, attracted the Vikings to pillage and raid communities in order to increase their own wealth in Northern Europe.
With the possibility of converting new Christians curtailed in the Ottoman neighbors to the East, and a mounting trade deficit with Asia, the kings of Portugal, Spain and England – amongst others – started looking for alternatives to the trade status quo. At first the Dutch and Portuguese sought direct access to Chinese and Indian suppliers by staying along the African coast all the way around the continent in order to reach the source of silk and spice. However, in order for European trade ships to reach their goal, they had to sail through waters that were controlled by Muslim traders that were not willing to release their monopoly without a fight. Therefore, it wasn’t long before the process of rounding Africa was brought into question and it was believed a more direct route to Asia could be found by crossing the Atlantic.
Meanwhile, the Crusades had expanded trade routes to the East and given Europeans a taste for imported goods… and luxurious textiles,” (History).
At the first glance, Islam and Christianity appear to have nothing in common, however; as you go beyond the surface, they appear to have many similarities such as their beliefs of God, their beliefs of life after death, their holy scriptures, and their prayers. These religions, although are two entirely different beliefs, share a similar origin. Like many other religions, they both claim to be the one and only true way to God. In order to truly see and understand their similarities, one must date back to the rise and birth of Christianity and Islam. Throughout the course of this essay, I will compare the many facets that show the alikeness between these two growing religions.
‘The Merchant of Venice’ focuses on trade itself and its effects on society and religion. Antoni...
Islam and Christianity have a vast amount of similarities as well as differences. Islam searches for guidance from the Qur’an and Christianity depends on faith in Jesus. Islamic faith believes in the God, Allah. Above anything else, all religious Muslims obey Allah and his commandments to obtain peace. On other hand, Christianity puts faith in Jesus who is the son of God. A major concept that separates both of the religions is the fact that the God of each faith has different qualities. This means Islam and Christianity don’t worship the same God. Islam and Christianity are two separate belief systems in which two separate Gods exist.