Ap World Dbq Attitudes of Christianity and Islam Toward...

Victoria Boldt April 16, 2010 AP World DBQ From the onset of the Christian and Islamic religions, until about 1500, the two religions began with two different opinions of merchants, but grew together as time went on. As the two religions reached the 1500’s, their view of merchants became almost identical. In the beginning of each religion, Christianity and Islam had very different views on merchants and traders. In the New Testament of the Bible, hatred is shown towards wealth and merchants. â€Å"It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.† (Doc. 1). This is very bluntly saying that there is absolutely no chance for a rich†¦show more content†¦Ibn says, â€Å"The manners of tradesmen are inferior to those of rulers, and far removed from manliness an uprightness† (Doc. 5). He also says that merchants are full of tricks, and are cheaters. This clearly shows an obvious change in Islamic views on merchants, while the Christians still feel the same. Finally, around the time of the 1500’s, the views on merchants by Christians and Islam became almost the same. In the 14th century, letters to and from Italian merchants were sent. Within these letters were evidence of how the Christian beliefs never really changed on merchants. From the letter of a merchant’s mother, she says â€Å"Crave for not all; you have already enough [money] to suffice you!† (Doc. 6). Even a merchant’s mother can see that greed is a big characteristic among people of this class. In comparison, Ankara, an Islamic representative of a Turkish guild explains the greed of a man who gets an entire supply of yarn, and keeps it to himself, when he should be distributing it among others (Doc. 7). At this point, Christians and Islam have the same view on merchants. At the start, Christianity and Islam opinions on merchants were very different, then as time passed, by the 1500’s their opinions were very alike. Though, to better assess the consequences of these attitudes towards merchant activities,