Throughout history religious groups often had very different views towards merchants and trade from the religions origins. Between the 0 C.E and 1500 C.E, Christianity and Islam emerged as one of the world’s most influential religions and trade within the Muslim and Christian world began to flourish and be transformed .These religions spread vastly into different regions and was able to convert a lot of cultures into their religions. In the Byzantine Empire in Europe around 0 C.E to 1500 C.E Christianity believed that trading was sinful. On the other hand in the Middle East and West Africa in around 600 C.E. to 1500 C.E. Islam believed that trade should be embraced. As shown in the documents Christianity mainly used trade to become more profit driven whereas Islam …show more content…
As stated in document 1 “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of god” This explains how Christians found trade sinful because of the ties it creates to earthly possessions. Christians had a negative attitude toward trades and stated that it was harder for a rich man to enter the gates of heaven because he affiliated himself with profit. Christians believed that if they free themselves from all of their possessions and gave them to charity that they will find themselves closer to god. In document 3 it says “Godric was now already firmly disposed to give himself entirely to God’s Service.” This excerpt describes how Christians believed people should think very little about material wealth, the requirement of trade to define one’s worth with God. As trade became more apparent in their society, Christians did not like deceitful trade as it was looked down upon to their faith. In document 4, Thomas Aquinas described that buying and selling must be based on honesty. If any other behavior like “if the price exceeds the quantity of the thing’s worth, or, controversy, the thing exceed the price,” occurs than it is unjust, unlawful