TRADE ASSIGNMENT
The silk roads were very instrumental in early trade. They enabled traders to travel long distances over an extended period of time in the name of commerce. They also enabled trade in an area that was vast thus opening up markets to exotic products from distant lands. The period in which the Silk Road was used was also a period which marked the springing up of major religions and their spread in the region. As a result some traders took advantage of the Silk Road to spread their religion. In other instances the circumstances forced certain traders using the Silk Road to adopt a given religion.
Islam is a religion that is highly associated with the Silk Road. The Silk Road served a very large purpose not only in commerce and trading activities but also in the spread of Islam. As many Muslim traders started using the road they increasingly spread their religion on the way. Many traders also converted to Islam as a matter of convenience. This is because Islam has firm and assertive laws concerning trade. According to Islam fellow Muslim traders are afforded certain liberties that non-Muslims are by all means denied. Such liberties may include fairer prices on trade goods and even receiving preferential treatment as far as the quality of trade goods is concerned. Islam also forbids Muslims from raiding fellow Muslims. This was a major factor that enticed traders using the Silk Road to convert to Islam. The fact that they were Muslims guaranteed their safety and the safety of their products from Muslim raiders along the Silk Road. Thus increased use of the Silk Road by traders heightened the spread of Islam by enabling traders using this road to hear the news of Islam and make their choice on whether to convert to Islam or reject Islam. The circumstances surrounding the Silk Road and the trade activities therein however served to encourage traders to convert to Islam as opposed to sticking to their original religion.
The Silk Road served as a means of trade in which silk and horses were traded. The Chinese traded their silk for horses from central Asia. Buddhism had taken prominence in central Asia. Travels by Chinese businessmen along the Silk Road to central Asia subjected them to Buddhism. A large number of Chinese traders and business men were very impressed and even overwhelmed by the philosophical and ideological teachings of Buddha. Some of these traders fully embraced Buddhism not only as a philosophical ideology but also as a religion. The result was the transportation of Buddhism from central Asia back to the heart of China itself. These traders who were so impressed by the philosophical teachings of Buddhism sought to spread these philosophical ideologies in an attempt to make their homeland a better place. They served as advocates of Buddhism back in China letting people know the good that came with this philosophical ideology and religion. The result was Buddhism taking root in China. The spread of Buddhism in China also strengthened trade between China and south Asia. Since both groups of traders were increasingly embracing Buddhism it was a lot easier for them to identify with each other on a religious front. The fact that they shared the same philosophical teachings of Buddha meant that they were more compatible as trade partners. The spread of Buddhism thus intensified matters commerce on the Silk Road. It also strengthened the relationship between China and India not only in terms of religion and philosophical ideology but also in terms of religion.
Use of the Silk Road also exposed traders to influence from Christians hailing from Romania. These roads gave Christians exclusive access to the traders using the roads. As a result the Christians had the opportunity to influence the traders in terms of religion. Interactions between these Christians from Romania and the traders using the silk roads by all means aided the spread of Christianity. The Christians from Romania had access to the traders and this gave them an opportunity to teach these traders about Christianity. The teachings of Christianity also appealed to the traders in terms of their craft. Some of the traders found Christianity very appealing. The teachings of Christianity encouraged justice and fair treatment of all men. For any honest businessman these are virtues that are very necessary in order to conduct business with a sense of sincerity and utmost honesty. Some of the traders thus found Christianity very appealing. With this new revelation of the beauty of Christianity they proceeded to become Christians themselves. As they became Christians they spread Christianity through their travels. They influenced other traders along the silk road leading to the conversion of these traders into Christianity as well. The use of the silk roads therefore greatly aided the spread of Christianity from Europe through Asia.
In my opinion the silk roads aided the spread of trade and commerce more than they did religion. The primary purpose of anyone using the silk roads was trading activities. It was these trading activities that enabled religious enthusiasts to take advantage of the opportunity and spread their religion.
