at all. Despite these facts, Christians and Muslims still had mixed feelings towards traders and…
Question #1: Using the documents, compare and contrast the attitudes of Christianity and Islam toward merchants and trade from the religions’ origins until about 1500. Are there indications of change over time in either case, or both? What kinds of additional documents would you need to assess the consequences of these attitudes on merchant activities?…
Muslims and Christian were very different on many points. Not only religion but also politics, economics and social relationships. Muslims were divided in many kingdoms which made them divided while all the Christian world united against…
From a review of the 7 documents presented, it is clear that Christianity and Islam condemned inequitable trade, which led to many Christians and Muslims to look down upon merchants; however, honest business, especially as a merchant, is honored highly. In fact, the Qur'an compares fair merchants to martyrs which were some of the holiest people of all [D2]. However, many Christian and Muslim believers found most merchants to be dishonest and greedy. A Christian scholar describes a merchant's job and then concludes that when a person sells something for more than it is worth, it is "unjust and unlawful" [D4]. An influential Muslim scholar ventured to say that "flattery, and evasiveness, litigation and disputation" were all characteristic of a merchant's profession [D5]. Even common people, like a Christian mother scolds her own son, a merchant, for being greedy [D6]. Muslim law, as time went one, continued to allowed merchants to trade, but some instances of trade were rebuked by whole towns [D7]. Many encouraged generosity and viewed a merchant turning from his profession as a good thing as seen in Godric's life, who was a merchant and then devoted his life to charity and solitude [D3]. Furthermore, the Bible warns all that it is extremely hard for "a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven" [D1]. Also, to fully understand how Christianity and Islam viewed merchants.…
The Economical systems during 1000 CE and 1450 CE were had the biggest impact on the growth and the decay of cities, trade, and inventions. When populations decreased because of trade, this led to more workers being needed. This in total led to more people being paid. Before this period, technology was simple. Then, Europe began to build better and become more experienced. They invented the compass and built better ships. These inventions and innovations led to easier trading techniques and an increase in the economy. Along with this is that Islam brought over a type of coinage. This allowed the societies to get rid of their barter systems. In addition, Capitalism became popular, which resulted in lots of profit for many.…
As a result of the introduction of Islam and the connection to the Islamic trade network, religious changes began to occur in…
On behalf of Reginald, a monk of Durham (Document 3) it was stated that people ought to spread wealth and goods, one shall not maintain high riches, for they should instead, furnish for charity-give rather than receive. Reginald, lettering on behalf of his colleague St. Godric, says that in order to serve the Lord and Jesus Christ, one ought to give up all possessions, lead a more simple life and give to those less-fortunate. Thomas Aquinas, a leading Scholastic theologian (Document 4) states that people shall not “sell what is not his, and though he may charge for the loss of his suffers.” He states that people of the earth and of God shunt sell things for more than they are worth, which is exactly the activity merchants practice, for they need to make profit by raising the price on what they paid for merchandise. A similar phenomenon was occurring in the Islamic religion during this era. Ibn Khaldun, a leading Muslim scholar in the fourteenth century, announced that men shouldn’t pay more for what an item is worth and that they shunt raise prices of goods for people, just so merchants can bathe in higher riches (Document 5).…
It was through this trade with the Islamic world that Italian sailors and scholars found…
Documents 2 and 4 can be grouped together because they both express that Islam and Christianity teach that merchants should be honest to everyone as derived from the holy books. In document 2, which can be found in the Qur’an, states that if a Muslim merchant is honest, he will be considered a martyr on the Day of Judgment. The Qur’an also preaches not to be deceitful in measurements and trading should be on mutual agreement. Whoever doesn’t follow Qur’an’s teaching will be punished and considered a cheater. The main point that this document conveys is that for merchants to be good Muslims in the eyes of Allah, they must be fair traders. In document 4 it is stated that no man should sell an item for a higher price than its worth. The main point that this document makes is that merchants should treat others the way they wish to be treated. The main argument that document 4 conveys is that merchants should still follow the Golden Rule of the bible, which is treat others the way one wants to be treated. Document 2 is taken straight out of the Muslim Qur’an, and was written at around 635 C.E. Muhammad preached this to a community that might have been facing a problem of honesty. It is important that know that Muhammad said this because he came from a dessert context, where if one didn’t make enough money he and his family would have a hard time surviving due to the unfavorable weather conditions of the desert. The significance that this document poses is that it was taken directly from the Qur’an, which all Muslims must follow. This means that all the merchants who do not…
Throughout history, many innovations were fueled by the motivation to better a nation's military power and navigation. The importing of bullion creates an influx in wealth for any country and when the Spanish started importing bullion, their navigation has increased to not only look for gold but to also continue importing that item. Also, the dependence of military power is vital because many countries will not to steal valuable items such as gold. Prior to 1450 there were fledgling monarchies and Europe was just transforming to statehood, but with the influx of bullion it caused their military, economy and navigation thrived. Technological developments fueled the passion for the exploration of the new world, which resulted in the strengthening…
As noted by Ibn Khaldun, he is a Muslim man who strongly disagrees with trade and so the Islamic religion begins to follow in his thoughts. While the Muslims lean away from trade, the Christians begin to accept it into their religion and retract their forbidding of the industry. In document six, which is a document from the Christian point of view, all three letters discuss each person’s opinion on trade. In all of the letters, trade is lauded by the writers but in the first letter, the writer expresses that you can find beautiful and valuable treasures from merchants but if they are not in reasonable price ranges, do not waste time on that one piece of art unless the master artist is in need. In the second letter, a mother writes to her son, who is a merchant, and she tells him that he must embrace the gift that has been given to him from God, that God has blessed him with all of his wealth. She also tells her son that since he has been blessed with his riches, he should not crave for more because he has enough to meet his requirements on living. Finally in the third letter, a man that is ordering wool declares that he shall pay the amount that was asked of him because the profit is in the name of God. In the Islamic religion during the 15th and 16th centuries, trade is becoming frowned upon by an Islamic court decision because the choice made was that it is more important to live…
Furthermore, Both Islam and Christianity had a negative attitudes for instance, in the Bible, Jesus preaches to his disciples how a rich man will never reach heaven. This is due to their behavior, for merchants are greedy and lying people whose only content is to get rich, which goes against Christianity’s belief. Moreover, Thomas Aquinas explains how unfair and unjust merchants are for they price their goods higher than what the product actually cost. By the tone of the document as well as how he explains trade and its problems show his dislike. Likewise Ibn Khaldun describes merchants as weak, and disgusting men and how they negatively affect the government. His tone is harsher however, which indicates his anger towards the merchants. Merchants constants rip-off of the people by selling their goods at a high price as well s giving their all their goods to those who pay more. The Islamic Court in Ankara had to deal with a case in which merchants would give all their cotton to a single person, if they pay extra high price in addition to the merchant’s high prices. Document seven contains quotes from that of the people who have complained about the merchants. Both Christianity and Islam share the same pessimistic attitude towards merchants and trade because of their behavior and how they sell their goods. Anyways, I would have like to see a document from a merchant, it would have help me better indicate if merchants were really sneaky and unfair as spoken in the documents given.…
Muslims seem to have had a favorable view of merchants. The Qu’ran states that an honest merchant is equivalent to a martyr (Document 2). This is almost completely opposite from the Bible’s view. It shows that Islam…
From the beginning of Islam they believed trade was only okay if you provided a fair supply of product to amount for the item you were attempting to trade for (Doc 2). According to the Muslim Qur’an, merchants were untruthful and unholy (Doc 2). It was even discussed in court during the 17th century that when buying things for trade, you must distribute evenly among all, not just one person gets everything (Doc 7). When merchants used their skill in flattery and evasiveness to make a profit, it made them loose the respect of men (Doc 5). The unholy way they made a living makes them less of a man than the poorest peasant (Doc 5). These ideas were expressed by a Muslim scholar, who was well educated and had the authority to make such judgments (Doc 5).…
In Islam, the essential rule in business is honesty and fair dealing, and a businessman should, as a result, be a person of high ethical principles (Kaliffa 2003). The market should be free and not subject to manipulation and where individuals engaging in trade and commerce should act fairly (Lewis 2006). Dealing in…