Religious Responses To Wealth Dbq

There is a divide between those with money and those without. Wealth bought power and privilege, which allowed Potiphar to buy Joseph when he was sold into slavery. Wealth also allowed for individuals like Potiphar and the Pharaoh to put people in jail on a whim. The Narrators spoke of that ease about the Baker and Butler, “Both in the doghouse for doing their thing” (Joseph, 48). Joseph was innocent of the crimes he was accused of, but it didn’t matter, because Potiphar’s Wife accused him and she had the power over him.

During the time period 600 C.E. to 1450 C.E., trade networks were relied upon to transfer goods, ideas, and services. Both the Trans-Saharan and Silk Road trade routes depended on animals, luxury goods, and economic growth. However, the trade routes differed in animals, types of luxury goods, and success of economic growth.

“Karl Polanyi, a historical anthropologist at Comlumbia University, argued that market economies, private profit seeking, and capitalism were a peculiar and unnatural way of structuring an economy.”(The Worlds History, Spodek, ch.12, p.375) Polanyi also discussed how back in ancient times, trading was meant to provide and benefit the whole society, not personal benefit like the free market economy was. Another historian, Philip Curtin, agreed with Polanyi is many ways; except that there was historical proof there was individual, personal trading going on in ports and throughout long distance routes back in the earliest times. (The Worlds History, Spodek, 2001, Ch. 12)

1. Trade networks in the post-Classical era has seen a range variety of the established and new networks of people’s exchanges crossing several regions. Extraordinary amount of wealth and growth emerged through cultural exchanges. Advanced transportation, the many different governing policies and business practices led to the widespread connection of networks which also contributed to the cultural, biological and technological spread throughout societies.

When studying trade and commodities of Empires in any period of time, it is important to look at the changes that the trade created within the involved nations. What crops were popular enough to grow commercially in the empire, what the increase of trade did to the population demographics, and how the global system influenced the interactions of the countries involved can be found through close reading primary sources. Through sources like Trade and Travel in the Far East by G.F. Davidson and Tearful Conversation over the Mulberry Fields and the Sea by Nguyen Thuong Hien, scholars can determine the impact these factors had on the lives of those who experienced empirical trade. In comparing these two documents, the most prominent focus is on

| * New trade routes were made, such as the Indian Ocean routes, and old routes were expanded upon, like the silk

Q. What does this reference to the Devil and treasure suggest about period attitudes about wealth?

From 600 to 1450 CE, trade thrived through the Indian Ocean trade routes. Large and powerful states provided security for merchants and travelers, allowing them to follow these routes with ease. While the spread of goods and ideas along the Indian Ocean trade routes remained constant, the states controlling them changed, leading to the creation of new states and the addition of European participation in this network.

Study of the Silk Road has made it obvious that Eurasian history was more than isolated histories of Mesopotamia, Egypt, Europe, India, Southeast Asia, and China. In reality, for several thousand years, the Silk Road ensured that these regions were never

Long before there were trains, ships and airplanes to transport goods from one place to another, there was the Silk Road. Beginning in the sixth century, this route was formed and thus began the first major trade system. Although the term “Silk Road” would lead one that it was on road, this term actually refers to a number of different routes that covered a vast amount of land and were traveled by many different people. Along with silk, large varieties of goods were traded and traveled along this route both going to and from China. Material goods were not the only thing that passed along this path, but many religions were brought into China via the Silk Road. These topics will be discussed in detail in this paper.

Muslims are not allowed to make money in ways that require little or no work, the Qur’an states: “They ask thee concerning wine and gambling. Say: In them is great sin, and some profit for men; but the sin is greater than the profit”, gambling is usually illegal and frowned upon in Islamic societies because it is too easy to attain wealth through it (Williams and Zinkin, 523). Work is important in the Islamic culture, not necessarily for economic purposes in the Western sense, but because it allows for prosperity for everyone and is an example of activities rewarded for in the after-life that are ‘secular’ (William and Zinkin, 521). The idea of mutual

Many thousands of years ago, upon the earliest creations of civilization, there were two thriving civilizations. Both of which knew little to nothing about each other’s existence. In this ancient world, there was no connection of the two civilizations, no trade in commerce or culture. It was not until the second century BC that Europe and Eastern Asia interacted in a significant way. What is known as “The Silk Road” was established during the Han Dynasty of China, it was a network of trade routes that created a link between these two regions during this ancient world (ancient.eu). Though these routes have history prior to the Han Dynasty, this is when many historians see the routes in full practice. This time during the second century BC was crucial in the connection of these separately thriving civilizations, connecting them through commerce, religion, and exploration.

The availability of the resources is enough to fulfil the basic needs of all people and it is also can satisfy the individual wants on luxurious items. Islam agrees on specific regulations that wealth can be acquired, used and disposed. Specific economic system should be imposed to ensure the economic justice in society is maintained. In the Islamic perspective, there are two ways to acquire the wealth. First is someone who acquires wealth by engaging in the production process and another one is people who have an indirect access to wealth in the form of inheritance, Waqaf, and Zakat which are given to the poor, the needy and later generations.

In America, a form of brainwashing is going on. People think more material things is good, including more commercialism, more property, and more money. Morrie pointed out that one cannot substitute material things for love, gentleness, tenderness, or comradeship. Morrie kept an old furniture, old model television set, old automobile, and same old house. However, his house was filled with happiness, love, teaching, communication, and relationship. In addition, many people, such as colleagues, meditation teachers, and therapists came to visit. Morrie’s bank account was diminishing, but his house was wealthy in a real way. A website called www.inspirationstation.info quoted Buddha, “To stop suffering, stop greediness. Greediness is a source of suffering.” Morrie avoided suffering from negatives.

Riches can be inherited, earned or saved. For a child of God, riches may refer to heavenly aspects.The term has been used way back in the Old Testament bible time. It doesnot always mean money. For instance, Solomon’s riches seem to point to horses and women, evidenced by the fact that he had about one thousand wives.In most traditions, inheritance in the form of land, house or money, were being passed from one generation to the next, thus passing on the riches.