Medieval Empire Religion

The rise and fall of different civilizations and empires is caused by various social, political, and cultural factors that affect its societies. One of the most important concepts seen in empires are the creation of its culture and its relation to the beliefs of its society. Religion plays an enormous role in understanding the purpose behind the actions of the people in a civilization. Religion and culture are dependent of each other as it reflects the ideas and values that society has agreed upon. As a new urban civilization during 2500 B.C, The Indus Valley Civilization created a sociopolitical system that

All the way from the start of civilization through to the Early Christianity there has been a pantheon of; destruction, recognition, wars, cultural diffusion, religious breakthroughs, laws that have been established, kings and queens crowned and dethroned. The Mesopotamian Civilization it was the land between two rivers the Tigris and the Euphrates Rivers that civilization first began.

The Crusades and the Mongol invasions greatly affected the trade in the Islamic world, but the Mongols were more open to the idea of trade than the Crusaders. There were many ways the Crusades affected trade. For example, by increasing the demand for Middle Eastern products. This was cause for more production in the Middle East. Also, the Crusades increased the use of money in the Islamic world, and the need for it. Lastly, the Crusades created many new inventions to do with weaponry and war because of trade. This allowed for better chances on the battlefield, and all the new inventions caused the economy to grow because people bought more things as they were now available.

“Thus, in April 1204, the crusaders and Venetians stormed Constantinople, sacked the city, destroying its magnificent library, and grabbed thousands of relics that were later sold in Europe…” This is important because they don't care of what religion the others are in. They want everyone to be part of their religion. If they do surrender and try to join their religion, the crusaders will sometimes just kill them. This states that the crusades were a negative influence on the civilians and different religions by slaughtering them and destroying their most valuable, precious items and where they lived, left in

Throughout history, religion has always been a factor for many events, but was the purpose of the Crusades in the 11th-13th centurys purely religions devotions, or political gain? Evidence from Pope Urban II, a quote from Patrologia Latina, and a speech by the Islamic leader Saladin show just how much of a factor religion was during the Crusades. These people come from different backgrounds and histories, yet they still believe in one thing- is was "Gods will" to partake in the Crusades. Pope Urban II was the main reason that Christian soldiers journeyed to the Middle East to fight in the Crusades. Being in such an influential position, people were bound to follow his word regardless of wealth.

They also had positive impacts on the merchants, Italians, and the established communities. They attacked the Byzantine capital. The crusades depended on Western Europe for supplies. I think the Crusades had a negative effect because of what they did to others.

As stated in Document 5, “After those kingdoms collapsed, Muslim rulers still encouraged trade with European businessmen. Commerce with the West benefited both Muslims and Europeans, and it continued to flourish.” Even when the kingdoms collapsed, Muslims still continued trade with the Europeans, and trade then maintained to thrive. This shows how the course of the Crusades helped bring back the prosperous economic relationship between Europe and the Middle East. Also, Document 2 explains how merchants who used their fleets to carry Crusaders ended up using their fleets to set up markets in the East. Merchants took European goods and brought back goods from the Middle East. This illustrates how Western Europe reconnected themselves to a more vast selection of products through the trade during the Crusades. As seen above, the Western Europeans were positively impacted by the Crusades through a more connected trade relationship with the Middle

The Crusades were battles between European Christians and Muslims. Now, the Crusades caused many things, both good and bad. But the question is, were the effects of the Crusades more positive or negative? From what I can tell, most of the results of the Crusades were negative ones. To begin, the Crusades have caused a lot of hate towards these religions.

Emergence of Kings, exercised distinct political rather than religious authority. Also warring Sumerian city-states, which fought for control of the river valleys in the lower Mesopotamia.

Religion and Economy in Medieval Europe and Japan Social Hierarchy after Urbanization Religion did not have as much of an impact on daily life and the overall development of Japan as it did Europe. For instance the maximum of the wars were fought for wealth or power, not religion, but what it did do was influence certain features. The people in Japan stuck to their original Shinto religion when Buddhism was involuntary forced on them, but soon after they discovered Zen Buddhism; a practice that was more focused on a personal experience and enlightenment. This new religion created a general focused awareness in Japan, but also influenced culture and the arts, for example Noh Theater, which was known for its precise and restricted movements.

Religion experienced a lot of progress and transformation throughout the Middle Ages. Christianity held consistent popularity and other religions such as Islam were on the rise in participation. After the fall of Rome, there was no unified state or government in Europe and the Catholic Church used that opportunity to become a large powerhouse. The Roman Empire had effectively split into three different worlds: Muslim, Byzantine, and western European. Various Kings, Queens, and other leaders looked to the Catholic church for power and protection in exchange for alliances. Meanwhile, the Islamic religion was growing in wealth, power, and people. With the prophet Muhammad’s death in 632, Muslim groups took under large parts of land and united them under a single caliph. The Byzantines were still operating from Constantinople, just under a smaller rule and rural life assumed greater importance in the backbone of their society. Religion was largely involved in the Middle Ages’ art and architecture. Massive Cathedrals were built and even books were a work of art before the invention of the printing press. In addition, their economy was directly affected by religious activity such as missions and conquests. Overall, the general trends marking the progress religion in the Middle Ages are inclusion of everyone, a building of a community, and the opportunity of becoming equals with other practitioners.

Religion can invade, conquer, and rule masses of people far more effectively and efficiently than any empire or conqueror. This is not to spark a heated discussion about religions. Its purpose is, to say that, even though it is highly debatable whether religions are false or true, most of them serve a very basic purpose of establishing morals and values. Early religions were used as a source of power and economic growth. Even if one doesn’t believe in or agree with the teachings of any religion, history shows proof that it creates a sense of order. There are many religions in the past that have brought order and civilized conduct to large numbers of people, not through military conquest, but through the promise of reward or the fear of punishment. Religion is the glue that binds local communities into nationhood and creates common understandings and shared values that are essential to the growth of a civilization. No religion is fully formed at its start, so why did some religion play such a big role in growth of the Ancient Civilizations.

Medieval Europe was referred to as Christendom as nearly everyone was a Christian. As most people were Christian the Catholic Church was the central part of their lives and they all believed in God and also the devil. Every person attended a service call mass on a Sunday. For a person to be a Christian they had to do all these things and also many others that were also important. All Christians believed, and were worried that they could go to hell or heaven. If they wanted to go to heaven people use to live their lives showing to God that they were good and worthy enough to be accepted into heaven. This message was put into these people’s heads as each Sunday when they went to mass the priest told them what to do and how to do certain things

Religion has been a powerful force in human history. Mankind has longed and searched for the answers to its purpose, the reason for being and the possibility of life after physical death. They reasoned that an afterlife would be a place of accounting and reckoning for the life they lived on earth. Religious belief systems seemed to give the answers as to how to prepare for the afterlife. Religion became the means of giving answers to those basic yet deep-seated questions of both life and death. Religion provided a format of rules and laws for conduct and treatment toward others based on the desires and wishes of a god or gods that people envisioned, imagined or invented. Religious belief systems have been a powerful force for good and bad...good in the sense that it provided a measure of individual behavior and order in society for the wellbeing of the whole, but bad in the sense that men of ambition who craved power and control over others would often use religion as a tool of manipulation and fear. A casual glance of history tells us that complete civilizations have been built, grown and maintained around elaborate religious systems, ancient Egypt being a prime example.

Early civilization consisted of core values that defined the communities that resided within it. These communities were driven by numerous factors in which would decide the overall outcome of the civilization. Geography, social and economic values, and they’re culture all played an important role in the makeup of these civilizations.