The Expansion of Trade Influence in the Post Classical Era of World History

The expansion of trade was a significant thing in the post classical era; it went through one of the biggest changes in history expanding in size and importance.  During the same period another one of the mayor happenings was taking place at the time, and that was the fact that most dominant religions remained throughout time, as civilizations came and went. The idea of trade has been around since religions first began to influence, but the fact of trade growing in size was a first during the post classical period; this shaped social hierarchies and dismissed many systems of belief among the population.

                Among the first to name trade a sin were the Muslims in the 8th century. As the story goes the Muslims of Islam believed this until the Divine Inspiration came and told them that there is no harm in them seeking the bounty of the lord. This simple phrase shows that people are starting to realize that trade and commerce are starting to become big in daily life, and it’s starting to get big enough to conflict with what the religions promote. Islam was the first to name it acceptable but not a necessity. That fell upon the Christians. In the 1100’s, with an ongoing war with the Saracens, also known as Muslims, no Christian was allowed to trade or mingle with a Saracen. Doing so resulted in excommunication from the church and the loss of hope of salvation. This absent connection of transferring goods made the Christians suffer. The city in which Pope Innocent III was speaking to was Venice; it was not a city of agriculture, rather it was a city that depended on its commerce and shipping. Pope Innocent III realized that though the trade with Muslims conflicted with the church, but it was a necessary evil if Venice was to survive and thrive. Because of this the people were allowed to trade specific things but nevertheless they were allowed to trade with Muslims.  The importance of necessity and justification were two big saviors that made trade acceptable in religions where trade was thought to be a bearer of bad habits and characteristics in a person. As trade expanded it brought questions in the minds of religious people of whether or not to practice it, but through struggle and realization trade literally came to be known as a necessary evil among religions.