This is my DBQ for an essay
The Islamic and Christian religions differed on their views of merchants tell about 1500 C.E. As time crept by people of the Christian religion changed their views and became almost identical to the Islamic view that didn’t really change over time.
From the beginning people of the Christian religion looked down upon people who were wealthy. “…a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven… 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“(document 1). If you became wealthy of marketing you were not going to heaven. In early times people of the Islam religion thought that it was ok to be a merchant as long as it was done rightfully. “Woe to the cheaters” (document 2)! “On the day of judgment, the honest, truthful Muslim merchant will take rank with the martyrs of the faith” (document 2).
As time changed Christianity started to accept merchants. Of course this colleague of St. Godric (a twelfth-century British merchant) is going to support merchants and will have a bias opinion. “Wherefore, that he might follow Christ the more freely, he sold all his possessions and distributed them among the poor” (document 3). As long as the merchant uses his power in a way that god sees as right Christians accepted merchants. There letters from the merchants of document six are going to support merchants just because of the fact that they are merchants but never the less they still stress that what they are doing is ok because they are doing it in the of god. “You say you have writ to Venice to remit us 1000 ducatats with which, in the name of God and profit, you would have us buy Costwold wool. With God always before us, we will carry out your bidding. “I answer that it is altogether sinful to have recourse to deceit in order to sell a thing for more that its just price because this is to deceive one’s neighbor so as to injure him” (document 4). Islamic people still view that in order to become a wealthy merchant one needs to be decisive but nevertheless allowed. “Yet most of the methods it [merchants making money] employs are tricks aimed at making a profit by securing the difference between the buying and selling… [religious] Law allows the use of such methods which, although they come under the heading of gambling, yet do not constitute the taking without return of other people’s goods” (document 5). This trickery that people viewed merchants of doing is supported by document 7, “Whenever cotton yarn comes to [town], the aforementioned arrives, pays an extra price, and takes it from its owner, and the other weavers remain deprived” (document 7). Let’s not forget that Muhammad himself, the central figure of the Islamic people, was merchant.
In order to better understand if people of these religions support merchants or not I would need something that said in black and white going one way or the other. Even better would be some kind of quote from the religious book of either of these religions that merchants are evil or something of the sort. If some kind of document can’t be found a graph would help show that out of a lot of people of the same religion showing if or not they support merchants. This kind of document would let me come to a conclusion were I could say that most of people of either religions feel this way about merchants.
merchants tell about 1500 C.E. <~~Delete "tell" and insert "until"
In order to better understand if people of these religions support merchants or not I would need something that said in black and white going one way or the other. <~~comma after "not" -- and finish the thought: "said in black and white going one way or the other" doesn't make sense.
This kind of document would let me come to a conclusion were I could say that most of people of either religions feel this way about merchants. <~~Very strange conclusion; also "were" is not used correctly, and "either religions" mixes singular and plural.
Read through your entire paper and look for errors like these -- read the paper aloud to someone to catch all the errors!
Based on the information provided in your DBQ, it seems that the Christian and Islamic religions had differing views on merchants until around 1500 C.E., when Christianity started to accept merchants more. Here is an overview of the information you have provided:
1. From the beginning, Christians looked down upon wealthy individuals, believing that it was difficult for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven.
2. In early times, Islam viewed merchants in a more positive light, as long as their activities were done rightfully.
3. Over time, Christianity began to accept merchants, especially if they used their wealth in a way that was seen as right in God's eyes.
4. The letters from the merchants in document six support the idea that Christianity accepted merchants who operated with God's blessings.
5. Islamic teachings allowed for lawful methods of making a profit, even if they involved some trickery or gambling-like activities.
6. Muhammad himself, the central figure of Islam, was a merchant, which supports a more tolerant view of merchants in Islamic society.
To further support your claims and strengthen your argument, it would be helpful to find more specific evidence such as quotes from religious texts or documents from the time period. You suggest looking for documents that clearly state whether merchants are considered evil or highly regarded in either religion. Additionally, you propose using graphs to demonstrate the beliefs of a large sample of individuals within each religion. This kind of evidence would provide a stronger basis for drawing conclusions about the majority views of Christians and Muslims toward merchants.
Remember to analyze the evidence you find and to consider any historical context that may be relevant to understand the shifts in religious views over time. Additionally, it is important to acknowledge any potential biases in the sources you use and to consider counter-arguments to present a balanced view in your essay.