Nicole Eddy

Professor Bomba
Second Essay Assignment

Christianity and Islam were able to take over the Greater Mediterranean Basin when it
went from being polytheistic to being predominantly monotheistic between 1 AD and 800 AD. In
this region, there was intense resistance from polytheistic people. These religions had similarities
and differences through how they appealed to certain groups, Christians using Martyrdom, and
Muslims using Jihad.
The growth of Christianity into a new religion disconnected from Judaism proved the
most meaningful and lasting influence on later history that occurred during the Roman Empire.
Christianity rose among a group of Jews in Judaea, where they were allowed to practice their
religion. The untouched faith drew attention to followers very moderately but Christianity
eventually broadened because it had an appeal situated on the occupation of Jesus, a message of
salvation, a full of life meaning of mission, and a powerful state of mind of society. Christianity
appealed to many people including the sick or poor because it gave them hope. Some rich people
believe in themselves or their money with the idea they dont need God because they can make it
on their own. There was a troubling question about divine justice raised by the Jews. How could
a just God allow the wicked to prosper and the righteous to suffer? Persecution by the Seleucid
king Antiochus IV caused a crude uprising. This resulted to ideas called apocalypitcism, which is
evil powers controlling the present world and God sending Christ to win the battle. There will be
judgement which will bring eternal punishment for the wicked and eternal reward for the
righteous. This motivated Christians and Muslims. (Textbook, 179)

The turning point in the development of Christianity as a new religion was Paul of
Tarsus. He was appealing to non-jews and travelled to find converts around Asian Minor and to
preach. (Textbook, 181) Paul taught that converts do no need to obey all of the Jewish law. This
brought on controversies and he was executed in about 65 C.E. There was a revolt in 66 C.E. and
Jerusalem was destroyed resulting Christianity into a separate religion. Christianity sprang up in
urban areas from disciples preaching in cities. (Textbook, 182)
Persecution did not stop Christianity. They believed that their deaths would lead directly
to happiness in heaven which allowed them to face painful torture with courage and some of
them even became martyrs on purpose which means witness. A Christian martyr was someone
who was killed for following Christianity. They were stoned, crucified, burned at the stake or
tortured in a different way. A martyrs death was considered a baptism in blood, cleansing one
of sin, similar to the effect of baptism in water. This is how they showed their faith for their
Savior. The lives of the martyrs become a source or inspiration for some Christians. Most
Christians did their best not to become martyrs but a martyrs courage would shape the identity of
this new religion as a faith that gave its believers the spiritual strength to endure great suffering.
(Textbook, 184) Although Christians were a outnumbered group, many people, including Roman
authorities, saw that their rejection of traditional religious beliefs as a danger to peace and social
order. The interrogation of six Christians in the area of rule of Africa by Vigellius Saturninus,
takes this disagreement of faith and politics to life. Shaping Christians sense of identity and
mission, the document reveals the crucial role persecution played. Even with all the efforts to
destroy the Christians, they still ultimately survive and prosper. (Interrogation of Christians)
The polytheistic peoples of the Greater Mediterranean Basin did not understand the ways
of the Christians. They became frustrated and hateful towards them. Minucuis Felix says, They

despise the temples as if they were tombs, they spit upon the gods, they ridicule our sacred rites.
Some polytheistic peoples would attend Christian rituals then return to the people and make up
false stories about what happened. Some say that they worship the genitals of their pontiff and
priest, and adore the nature, as if were, of their common parent. (Minucius Felix, Octavius)
During this time, Pliny the Younger was governor of Pontus/Bithynia and he wrote a letter to
emperor Trajan. He asks, Whether the name of being a Christian, even though otherwise
innocent of crime, should be punished, or only the crimes that gather around it? Pliny was
concerned because some people would say they are Christians and then deny it. Trajan replies
telling Pliny that he has done good with investigating but should not hunt the Christians. If
brought before you, and the offense is proved, they are to be punished, but with this reservation
-- if any one denies he is a Christian, and makes it clear he is not, by offering prayer to our gods,
then he is to be pardoned on his recantations, no matter how suspicious his past. Trajan states.
(Correspondence between Pliny and Trajan)

Muhammad was the first to teach Islam. He recognized that there is only one God of the
Jews and Christians. He exercised the powers of both a religious and a secular leadership.
Through a combination of persuasion and force, Muhammad and his coreligionists, the Muslims,
converted most of the Arabian peninsula. (Textbook, 238) Together his converts shaped a
community united by the worship of God, signified not only in individual prayer but also in the
collective duty to compete against unbelievers, often in war. (Islamic Terms of Peace)
Muslims responded differently than Christians because instead of becoming martyrs they fought
back. Muhammad used the complicated policy, Jihad. Muhammad wanted to make Islam prevail
over every religion. In the ten years that Muhammad lived in Medina, he either sent out or went

out on seventy-four small assassination hit squads, raids, expeditions, small battles, or full-scale.
Sometimes the conflicts did not end in violence, but too many times they did.
The aspect of Islam that appealed to the poor and oppressed the most was equality in
social status and equal rights. In Islam every Muslim is equal in every way. There is no
differentiation based on race, caste, language, color of skin, wealth or nature of work. All people
are equal to Allah Almighty. Therefore people who were poor and oppressed with no rights in a
society ruled by the elites were attracted to it. Similarly all over the world the first of the people
to revert to Islam in any society were the poor and oppressed so that they will be free from the
tyranny and oppression of the rich and elite. Islam was not spread on the point of sword or
looting and plundering. Islam forbids looting caravan or people. It is a sin and anyone who steals
or loots will have his right hand chopped.
Muhammads messages were written down and turned into the Quran, the holy book of
Islam. The final selection of the book, the Testament, symbolizes the later period of
Muhammads prophecy when he and his followers confronted the challenges posed by people
who withstood the new religion. Those who denied the faith - from the peoples of the book or
the idolators - could not stop calling it a lie until they received the testament.
The crucial event for the new movement was Muhammad immigrating to Medina.
Muslims made their political and religious institutions inseparable. Muhammad led raids against
the Quraysh in Mecca because they opposed the public practice of Islam. So through a
combination of force, conversion, and negotiation, Muhammad was able to unite man, though by
no means all. (Book, 241) Like Judaism and Christianity, Islam retained the practices of the
patriarchal society in which is arose, womens participation in community life was limited.
(Textbook, 242)

There were external reasons for Islamic success. The caliphs conquered in so short of a
time because Islamic forces would go against weak empires. Also, Muslims were welcomed into
both Byzantine and Sasanid territories by discontented groups. Many Monophysite Christians in
Syria and Egypt, for example, had suffered persecution by the Byzantines and were glad to have
new, Islamic overlords. The internal reasons were that Muslims exercised their skills as warriors
not against one another but rather against unbelievers. (Textbook, 243)
Islam survives because it remains unchanged and sees itself as at war opposite to cultural
dissimilarity and diversity. As a result it can remain monolithic and isolated from the culture.
Islam provides security and stability. Christianity advanced because the gospel is a message to
every tribe and tongue, and while the message must remain the same, the medium and the
method are readily adaptable to other cultures.

Word Count: 1438