Dbq Christianity And Islam Essay

In the early centuries, two major religions emerged that would dominate their respective regions. Islam was founded by Muhammad, an Arab merchant, in the 7th century CE. Jesus, a Jewish carpenter, founded Christianity in the Roman Empire during the 1st century CE. Initially, Muslims promoted trade while Christians had a negative view of merchants and trade. By 1500 CE, however, it became evident that these attitudes had become increasingly similar, with Muslims more skeptical of trade and Christians being more tolerant towards it. 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
is tolerant of trade and promotes honest merchants. However, Muhammad, the founder of Islam, was a merchant himself. This may have contributed to the support of merchants from the start of the religion. A Muslim scholar from the 14th century named Ibn Khaldun writes about merchants and trading in Islamic society (Document 6). He acknowledges that merchants use dishonest techniques, but also states that trade is a natural means of livelihood. At the time, Muslims saw trade as part of everyday life, unlike Christians, who saw it as sinful.
Conversely, Christians held a negative view of merchants from its origins in the 1st century CE.
In the New Testament of the Bible, written around 70-80 CE, it is written that Jesus tells his followers that a rich man cannot enter heaven (Document 1). This idea that a rich man cannot enter into heaven directly condemns merchants and supports the initial Christian views of trade. Furthermore, it comes from the founder of Christianity, therefore it is reliable in analyzing the early views of Christians. However, Jesus himself was not a rich man. Most of his followers were not of high social status and likely resented the rich, which would explain their disapproval of merchants. A 12th-century account of the life of St. Godric tells the story of St. Godric’s merchant life. It ends with St. Godric giving up his material possessions and devoting himself to Christianity (Document 3). This piece highlights the opposition of the Christian faith to material gain. However, this was written by a colleague of St. Godric. Furthermore, it was written right before St. Godric’s death. The piece may not be accurate in describing St. Godric. A leading theologian from the 13th century quotes the Bible and the words of a Roman writer to make an argument against merchant techniques (Document 5). He concludes that the way that merchants profit is deceitful and therefore sinful. Again, this shows that Christians do not approve of merchants. Finally, a letter from a mother to her son, a merchant,
urges the son to limit his activities as a merchant and focus more on his faith (Document 7). This letter serves to illustrate the importance of faith over material gain in Christianity and supports the idea that Christians do not admire merchants.
By the 16th century, attitudes of both Islam and Christianity had relaxed. For example, merchants passing through the city of Novgorod, Russia were given special protection by the King (Document 4). This behavior is vastly different from the outlook of early Christianity. Christian attitudes had become more favorable to merchants towards 1500 CE. A letter to a merchant from the 14th century mentions a purchase of wool by the merchant in the name of God (Document 8). At this time, Christians were evidently more comfortable with trade and it was even associated with religion. On the other hand, Muslims saw merchants in a more negative way. A 17th century court decision quotes several members of a weaver’s guild who are unhappy about the unfairness involving the purchase of cotton yarn. This shows that Muslims during this time period valued fair trade and were upset about the behaviors of merchants.

Christian: 1, 3, 5, 7
Muslim: 2, 6
Both: 4, 8, 9