DBQ on the relationship between Trade and Religion in the post classical world

Religion and trade connect and unite the world in ways that we can not live with out and in ways we can not imagine. Sometimes they conflict and sometimes they don't. It all depends on who you are, where you are, and what time it is. Trade and religion were often found to conflict during the post classical period, however in some areas they harmonized and existed side by side. To make this a well rounded post classical consensus it would be nice to have articles from all over the world. Which is why it would be nice to have an article on India or Polynesia, because they would bring something new and diverse to the table, and trade and religion played large parts in their histories.

In many regions of the post classical world religion and trade were often found to conflict. Some regions believed that by trading with those who were culturally different and those who had different religious beliefs, they were helping the enemy (Doc #4). They viewed the other religions as inferior but often felt the threat of conversion and conquest, making them defensive. Trading with the enemy was seen as giving the enemy weapons and weapon material, therefore aiding them in the growth of their religion, and adding pressure to the other. Their were also regions that viewed market places as sinful and were completely against trading (Doc # 5). They felt that market places were held where they did not belong and that they too often caused men to miss church. A market place was viewed as a place where lies and deceit were made to gain profit, and place where quarrels and fights often broke out because of it. Which, therefore gave it's popularity a turn for the worse.

There were also regions of the post classical world where trade was found to conflict with religion (Doc#2). They felt that the manors of of the tradesmen were inferior to those of rulers. To buy, sell and seek profit they often used evasiveness and disputation. This lead to a decrease and weakening in moral virtue. They understood that trading was a means of livelihood, but felt that the methods were tricks aimed at profit.

However there also were many regions in the post classical world where religion and trade were not found to conflict. In some it was felt that there was no harm in seeking the bounty of the lord (Doc #1 ). Therefore a transaction where both parties spoke the truth and described the defects and qualities would be blessed. A transaction that involved deceitfulness would lose it's blessing, seeing that it was against the way of the lord. It was also felt that the buyer and the seller had the right to keep or return goods they had received through the trading system.

 

Throughout the post classical world there were also regions of religion that embraced trade (Doc.#3 ) These regions believed that trade was some thing you learned over time. They felt that it was to be built up, meaning that you would start small and work your way up to the big stuff by associating yourself with other merchants and learning from each other. It was believed that trading involved wisdom, and that traders were neither puffed up by good testimony or driven down by the reproach of poverty, and that they were respectful and charitable.
 

It was not only religion that found it self facing off against trade, but philosophical thinking (Confucianism) as well. It was this region in the post classical world that felt that traders were selfish and greedy (Doc #6). There, merchants wore rich elegant clothing and ate fancy food. Their horses were decked out and people attracted to their wealth would often ask to serve them. It was also there that the merchants would boast of their wisdom and ability. They believed that they knew all of the possible transformations in the universe and therefore could calculate all of the changes in the human world, and that the path of the prices was completely under their control. Also that they would not make one mistake out if a hundred of every one of their equations. Their wisdom and ability were insignificant and all they really were was a pile of silk and sushi.

It can be concluded from the documents provided that in the post classical world trade and religion were generally found to conflict. This can be determined by the 4:2 ratio (4 trade and religion conflict, 2 trade and religion do not conflict) found in the data. Trade was generally disliked because it involved deceit and other sinful and morally demeaning objectives. The merchants were generally overconfident and selfish and puffed-up and were known for their slippery tongues.n This resulted in a pro and con relationship because trade was necessary for countrys to survive, but it was often against religious beliefs. It is predictable that an Islamic article for the eighth century would support trade (Doc # 1), simply because of the fact the Muhammad, the founder, was a merchant. And the time suggests that Islam has not yet completely diffused and subjugated itself to the traditional culture of a particular area. It is also predictable that a Chinese article in the sixteenth century would suggest that merchants are not so wise, because merchants and traders never really held a place in the Chinese social structure, and the rulers looked down upon them.

Religion is what held countries together and trade is what connected them, however they did not always unite under the same banner. I believe that it would be helpful to have an article from India or Polynesia. This is simply because of the fact that I believe that different areas of the world will offer more diversities and opinions. I feel that by adding areas that are more diverse and by covering all major parts of the post classical world, it will help to better round the study of the interactions between trade and religion during the post classical period.


Doc #1- From the Hadith (Islamic legal code)8th century C.E.
Doc #2-A Muslim View of the Characheristics of Traders: Ibn Khaldun 1300's C.E.
Doc#3-Depiction of Saint Godric, a British merchant by his Christian biographer, Reginald of Durham 1100's C.E.
Doc#4-Pope Innocent III: License to Venice to trade with the Saracens 1198 C.E.
Doc # 5-Humbert de Romans: An Account of Medieval European fairs and markets 1250 C.E.
Doc # 6- China: Zang Han's Essay on Merchants 1500's C.E.