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Bruno Tambasco

Period 3

01/01/09

AP World History

Mr. Marshall

2002 Document-Based Question

1. Using the documents, compare and contrast the attitudes of Christianity and Islam toward merchants and trade from the religions’ origins until about the 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?

Check-off list

Thesis

Historical Context

Analysis

Rule of Three

5 Groupings

2 Additional Documents

5 Point of Views

7 Reliability of Documents

All 7 Documents were used

Different Sprite Categories for each Grouping

Additional Information

Body Paragraphs begin with Topic Sentence

Segue/Closure

Long-Term Effects

Short-Term Effects

Transitions

Minimum 5 body paragraphs (Total of 7)

Compare and Contrast of Documents

Profound Thesis Statement

DBQ answers all parts of the question

Shows change over time

Time is mentioned throughout the DBQ

Compare and Contrast of Groupings

2 or more vs. 2 or more documents per grouping

-Cover Page (with heading)

-Bibliography Included (MLA Style)

-5 minimum sources

(Background Information) With the establishment of the earliest religions, views towards merchants and trade varied especially in the two largest religions in the world, Christianity and Islam. (Short-Term Effect) After the writing of the Bible and the Qur’an, some of the basic beliefs of these religions began to vary in relation to trade. (Short-Term Effect) At first, Christianity didn’t have many views on trade du to the fact that the Byzantine empire had a lot of authority over the economy. (Armstrong 125) (Change Over Time) in the beggining of Christianity, agriculture was good enough to survive but by the 1500s C.E., trade was very significant and necessary leading to the change in views toward trade and merchants.(Spodek 344-345). (Thesis) From 600 B.C.E until 1500 C.E., the demand for trade grew and became a part of daily life for Christians and Muslims and even though in the beggining of time they both saw it as a negative thing, they both learned to accept it and take advantage of it even though they had different views toward trade and merchants. (Segue) One of the many differences that the two religions had toward trade was the economic view, for they took different uses of trade to achieve a benefit in their lives.

(Topic Sentence) Economically speaking, Christianity and Islam are very different and don’t agree on what should be done with trade and merchants. (Grouping 1 Economic) Some of the documents state that trade should be fair and equal while others say that it should turn into monetary profit for the merchant. (Docs 2,3,4,6, 7 vs. Doc 5).(Grouping Contrast) While the Italians believed that masterpiece and certain works should only be bought when the artist was in need and not when you already have enough to suffice you, Khaldun compares trading and merchants to gambling where you have chances of greater wins when you invest more and you should always seek the best before selling or trading something in seek of profit.(Docs 5 and 6).(Point of View Doc 5) Khaldun sees and describes trading and marketing as gambling, the more you invest, th more you can win and as something bad for the community.(Doc 5) (Fact 1) Some Islams even refused to trade in the beggining because they thought they were commiting a huge mistake. (Fact 2) Often also Christians would commit such mistakes of selling products at a higher price than it was worth due to the fact that Matthew wrote in the Bible that you should do to men what they do to you.(Doc 4) (Fact 3) Trade began expanding in the eleventh century and so these religions started creating a more strict opinion on trade(Bulliet 236) (Reliability Doc 4) Aquinas is not so reliable due to the fact that he is writing and coming up with conclusions based on his research rather than based on facts of his own life or on things he himself witnessed. (Doc 4) (Segue) Islam and Christianity not only had different economic views but of course they were two different religions that had two very different backgrounds.

(Topic Sentence) Both Islam and Christianity are monotheistic religions, believing in only one god, which is also believed by some religions researchers to be the same god, but referred with different nominatives, but at the same time, they have very different beliefs among the fact that they have different principles.(Grouping 2 Religious) The Christian and Islamic views differ but they both look to trade as a negative part of life in the beggining of their religious expansion in the eighth century, but later develop to accept trade. (Docs 1,3,4,6 vs. Docs 2, 5,7) (Grouping 2 Contrast) For example, while Christians say that no rich man will go to heaven, the Muslims say that as long as the man was honest he will go to heaven or rank high in society. (Doc 1 vs. Doc 2) (Fact 1)While the Christian religion followed the Bible and its principles, the Muslims followed the Qur’an which contains different principles from those of the Bible leading to different views towards life.(Reliability Doc 2) The Qur’an is the most reliable Islam document for it is the Islam bible containeing all Islam principles.(Doc 2) (Fact 2) Matthew in the Bible states that even if a man is rich, his money won’t put him in heaven, for his actions describe him not his money. (Point of View Doc 1) Matthew’s point of view is that no matter how much money you have, what will get you in heaven is your good actions rather than your money. (Doc 1) (Fact 3) The Qur’an states that honesty majes a trade fair and that fair trade will stand out among cheaters and the fair traders will be ranked higher. (Doc 2) (Reliability Doc 1) The Bible is the most reliable Christian document that has ever existed for it contains the life of Jesus and the principles of Christian religion (Doc 1).(Segue) Religion and politics were very closely tied together back when this economic issue was in hand, the political leader would establish the civilization’s religion rather than everyone chosing their own religion.

(Topic Sentence) The religions also changed their views in the political aspect of trade since trade affected the person’s status and political rank if they were very successful. (Grouping Political) Some documents say that trading and profits won’t get you high in society while others disagree and say with profit you could have a high rank. (Doc 1, 3, 5 vs. Doc 2, 4) (Grouping Contrast) While the Qur’an says that you will be ranked with the martyrs of the faith if you are an honest trader, the Bible says that a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.(Doc 2 vs. Doc 1).(Fact 1) Khaldun compares trading and merchants to gambling where you have chances of greater wins when you invest more and you should always seek the best before selling or trading something in seek of profit.(Doc 5) (Fact 2) Khaldun stated that trading is like gambling but most other people would disagree with Khaldun because it is easier to cheat when trading and it is also easier to gain and harder to lose when trading especially because you can stop a trade at any moment. (Reliability Doc 4) Aquinas is not so reliable either for he is writing and comming up with conclusions based on his research rather than based on facts of his own life. (Doc 4) (Fact 3) Matthew states that you should do to others what others doo to you but Aquinas states that you shuld not deceive one’s neighbor to injure him in any way for it is sinful (Doc 4).(Point Of View Doc 6) Italian buyers see that trade and selling of products should only be done if needed and they say that if you have enough to suffice you then you don’t need to sell products. (Doc 6).(Additional Document) A written document by a civilian of Italy describing what he thought of trade and one of an Islamic civilian describing what he thought of trade. (Segue) As time went by, around 1100 C.E., trade started to develop and it started to gain a major role in the life of these people who once thought negatively about trade but were now beggining to change.

(Topic Sentence) The expansion of trade throughout the world in the 1100s, led to the change in thought of people of many religions including Christianity and Islam. (Grouping Time Period) Some documents come from before the eleventh century where these religions were just starting but others come from after the eleventh century where they had developed into great religions. (Doc 1,2 vs. Doc 3,4,5,6,7) (Grouping Contrast) While the Qur’an states that trade is a bad thing and is not helpful religious wise unless done honestly, Khaldun states the complete opposite and says that it should be done in order to achieve profits.(Doc 2 vs. Doc 5) (Reliability Doc 5) Khaldun is also not so reliable for he is just like Aquinas, a scholar who writes based on his research. (Doc 5) (Fact 1) Reignald describes the life of a man that made great trades and succeeded in life but decided to give himself and his money entirely to God’s service.(Doc 3) (Fact 2) Italians believed that masterpiece and certain works should only be bought when the artist was in need and not when you already have enough to suffice you.(Doc 6) (Point of View Doc 3) Reginald’s point of view is that no matter how much you profit from trade, you should always give the profit in God’s service rather than for your own benefit. (Doc 3). (Fact 3) This court order states that products should be distributed among all rather than sold to only one person even if he pays for it.(Doc 7) (Continued) The three facts show that even though they were starting to change their thoughts in relation to trade, it also shows that they were still in doubt if it was actually good or bad to trade for profit. (Doc 7 vs. Doc 3) (Additional Document) Diego Duran’s Book of the Gods and Rites is als very helpful to understand how in the 1500’s christians saw trade as something normal and helpful to society. (Andrea 403) (Segue) After this period of doubt around the fourteenth century, the merchants and religious people finally changed their point of view towards trade and by the 1500s they had a new life style.

(Topic Sentence) The most recent documents provided show the change in point of view towards trade from both the Muslims and the Christian who started accepting trade in the fifteenth century. (Grouping Point of View) Some of these documents have negative views on trade while others have positive views on trade. (Doc 1,2,4,7 vs. Doc 3,5,6) (Grouping Contrast) While Aquinas says that trade should not give any profit for products should not be sold for more than they are worth, the Italian merchants show that they need the money and they accept trade no matter the price and profit. (Doc 4 vs. Doc 6). (Fact 1) A fourteenth century Muslim scholar, Ibn Khaldun, stated that, in order for a merchant to sell something at price higher than their cost, the merchant has to transport the goods to a location where the demand is higher.(Doc 5) (Fact 2) In a letter from a religious fourteenth century merchant, the change of Christian attitude can be seen for the fact that the merchant wants to buy religious paintings for a certain price but the demand for such paintings is low, and therefore if no one is willing to sell one at his given price, he will adjust the price.(Doc 6) (Fact 3) Christians in the earlier years believed religion was more important and disagreed with merchants and trade, but as time went on Christians became less religious and began believing that merchants and trade were okay and for the most part good.( 1) (Additional Information) Christians were even seeking for trade with other continents in the fourteenth century for they accepted it. (Bulliet 302) (Point of View Doc 4) Aquinas believes that trading should only be done fairly and that a man shall not sell something for more than it is worth a no man should buy something for more than the product is worth either. (Doc 4) (Reliability Doc 1) The Bible is the most reliable Christian document that has ever existed for it contains the life of Jesus and the principles of Christian religion from the eyes of his disciples and close friends. (Doc 1) (Reliability Doc 3) Reginald is not such a reliable source for he is writing about someone else rather than about himself and he doesn’t really know about the person any better than what he has researched about him.(Doc 3) (Segue) So even though Islam and Christianity vary in many ways and beliefs, they also came to a similar conclusion about trading and decided to accept it for it became a part of their daily life.

(Topic Sentence) Christians and Muslims never agreed in many aspects but in relation to trade they have always had a similar point of view, especially after the 1300s when it became a part of their daily life. (Additional Information) After facing economic difficulties the Islam also started to accept trade normally around the fourteenth century C.E.(Bulliet 303-304). (Long-Term Effect) The evolution of trade from 600 C.E. until 1500 C.E. led to a great change in point of views of the major religions in the world, Islam and Christianity, leading to them finally accepting and looking at trade positively in the fourteenth century C.E. (Connection) This change in opinion or change in point of view is exactly like the Europeans view on Christians, at first it was seen as a negative thing and the Christians were hated until the Byzantine empire appeared and Constantine made Christianity the official religion of the Byzantine empire in 600 C.E. (Bulliet 219) (Closure) Even though Christianity and Islam are two very different religions, they had very similar ways of looking at trade, and they both started seeing it as something terrible that would never lead to heaven or success, but later when it became vital to their lives, they started accpting the importance of traed and considering it one of the most important things and even going to other places to seek for new trading countries in the sixteenth century C.E.

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