Early Christianity And Islamic Cultures In The Middle East

Early Christianity And Islamic Cultures The Middle Eastgeographica

Early Christianity and Islamic Cultures The Middle East Geographically speaking, the Middle East spans from Southeast Europe to the Nile valley to Central Asia. The Fertile Crescent is the region of the Middle East where the civilizations of the Middle East and the Mediterranean basin began. This region was named the Fertile Crescent because of its rich soil and a roughly crescent shape. Early sedentary civilizations emerged in the region supported by agriculture and trade centered on the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. Geography has long played a role in both the development of the region and in fostering competition and conflict (Braudel, 1995).

Early Christianity Christianity emerged as Jesus of Nazareth spread his teachings that emphasized the importance of maintaining the intent to carry out the word of God as God’s children. The record of the life and teachings of Jesus are the Gospels written after his death by crucifixion by his contemporaries. Within 400 years of his death, Christianity would spread extensively as followers viewed the crucifixion as atonement for all human sin. After his death, Jesus was regarded as the savior whose spirit guided them to atone for all human sin (Levack, Muir, Maas, & Veldman, 2007). Though there are no recorded writings specifically from Jesus, the New Testament contains the teachings of Jesus based on the Old Testament, which was based upon the oral histories of his followers in the decades following his crucifixion (Roberts, 1996).

Islam Islam emerged between 610 and 612 CE with the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad. Islam, which means the act of submission, is practiced by one who submits to the will of God (Allah), who is a Muslim. Visited by the angel Gabriel, Muhammad spread the message of God or Allah to Arabs (Goldschmidt, 2006). The Quran is the will of God or Allah as revealed to the last of the prophets. Consisting of 114 chapters arranged by length, the Quran consists of laws, historical stories, and devotions. Contained within the Quran are the five pillars of Islam and the basic tenets of Islam that outline both the prohibitions and duties of Islam (Goldschmidt, 2006).

Jerusalem In approximately 1010 BC, David conquered Jerusalem and made the city his administrative capital. During the reign of King David, Jerusalem came to be the capital city of the Hebrews. Once a Canaanite city, Jerusalem came to hold the Ark of the Covenant, a gold covered box that held divine and mystical power that represented a direct connection between God and His followers as well as symbolizing the unity of all Hebrew tribes (Levack, 2007). King David’s son, Solomon, built the temple as a permanent resting place for the Ark of the Covenant. After Solomon died in 931 BCE, Jerusalem became part of the southern kingdom of Judah. Ten of the northern tribes formed the new kingdom of Israel. In 722 BCE, the kingdom was conquered by the Assyrians (Virtual Israel Experience, n.d.).

References Braudel, F. (1995). A history of civilizations (R. Mayne, Trans.). New York: Penguin. Goldschmidt, A. (2006). A concise history of the Middle East. Boulder, CO: Westview. Levack, B. P., Muir, E., Maas, M., & Veldman, M. (2007). The West: Encounters & transformations. New York: Longman. Roberts, J. M. (1997). A history of Europe. New York: Penguin Allen Lane. Virtual Israel experience (n.d.). Retrieved August 20, 2007, from the Jewish Virtual Library Web site: The Arts, Religion, and Conflict Since the very beginning, anatomically modern humans represented reality through the lenses of emotions and aesthetic values. Humans react and respond to the challenges of survival in complex ways. These responses involve communication; the complexity of this communication is expressed by the myriad of symbols that constitute human language including all of artistic expressions. The first cave paintings date back to approximately 40,000 years ago, but absence of evidence is not evidence of absence. What if the materials used were biodegradable? Were textiles used? Were there wood carvings? These materials would have little chance of surviving over time. Artistic tendencies and sensibilities could have been much more diffused than what is suggested in the archeological record. The common theme in all primitive artwork is magic or the struggle to control nature through ritual behaviors and strict morals. In most cases, and especially in primitive art, magic is summoned through symbols to help in the daily struggle for survival. Religion is the domain of the supernatural; it manifests itself through rituals and practices that include stratification of roles, mythology or worldview, identity, and extraordinary experiences. The role of religion is to provide a degree of comfort in the form of hope and establish a moral code intended to uphold cultural norms. Religion provides cultural cohesiveness and the illusion of control over the uncertain matters of life and may even help rationalize violence as the solution to conflict of interest. Avoiding Conflict Access to resources or the lack thereof is cause of conflict; the sharing of resources is viable only in the presence of reciprocal benefit. Two parties would not come to war if the potential outcome does not afford supremacy over primary sources of territorial power War or conflict existed since the time humans formed groups. Clashes or small-scale “wars” between bands or tribes have been documented as far back as the time of the first sedentary farming settlements. War, as it is envisaged today, is the last resort of states or nations. How do we avoid conflict? The environment ability to support a population is the key to peace. When this ability is threatened by population growth or external forces, conflict becomes unavoidable. Religion, and most of ideological infrastructures, constitutes a powerful force: Nationalism and national identity are cemented by common ideological values shared by all the members of a population. Although the cause for conflict is generally of materialistic nature, a universally perceived external threat is a unifying element and will enable mass mobilization. Ancient Greece According to classicist C. M. Bowra, Ancient Greece left some of the most magnificent works of art and literary monuments ever bequeathed by one civilization to another. But it is, rather, because of the spirit they evoke, a spirit rooted in the belief that man is a free, indeed an exalted, being. For thousands of years older civilizations—Persian, Egyptian, Assyrian, Babylonian—thought of man as a despised figure who groveled before deities and despots. The Greeks picked man up and set him on his feet. (Bowra, 1965, p. 18) Architecture and Sculpture To the Greeks, all things must be enjoyed in moderation, but this does not mean the Greeks did not have a strong taste for beauty. Architecturally, they gave the Doric and Ionic orders, which have functions as well as elegance and are still used. Along with developments in architecture, the Greeks perfected sculpture with an almost-obsessive desire to show human perfection. They showed the beauty of the human form in nudes and combined realism and idealism into things of beauty unlike anything the world had yet created. Drama, Music, and Literature The Greeks invented drama: many tragedies and comedies such as Euripides’ Medea or Aristophanes’ The Clouds are as compelling today as they were when they were written. Musical divisions of Pythagoras are still used today, and one does not need to study philosophy to realize that music can affect human emotions. Classical Greece bore philosophers; indeed, much of Western thought is based on the ideas of Socrates, Plato and, especially, Aristotle. Poetry was also developed from Homer and Sappho. The Ideal of Man For the Greeks, war was the supreme test of a man, and while "[h]eadlong bravery was the least that was expected of Greek fighters…style in war was particularly admired" (Bowra, 1965, p. 22). The Greeks also admired the individual and gave equal respect to both mental and physical prowess. A complete individual would be an active athlete, a philosopher, a judge, and a poet and would pursue anything else worthy of pursuit. The Olympics exalted athletics but prizes were also given to the best musicians, dancers, and poets while festivals for Dionysus focused on drama. Government This remarkable culture gave the world a new king of government: democracy. They prized law and order, held a passion for freedom, and abhorred corruption. The great Athenian leader Pericles made a funeral oration for the dead in the winter of 431–430 BCE. In his stirring speech, he praised not just those who perished but the city of Athens as well. Part of this speech explains the Athenian view of democracy and is appropriate as Athens was the birthplace of this form of government. Our constitution is called a democracy because power is in the hands not of a minority but of the whole people. When it is a question of settling private disputes, everyone is equal before the law; when it is a question of putting one person before another in positions of public responsibility, what counts is not the membership of a particular class, but the actual ability which the man possesses. (Murphy, Katula, Hill, & Ochs, 2003, p. 242)

Paper For Above instruction

The historical landscapes of the Middle East are deeply intertwined with the origins and development of early Christianity and Islamic cultures, both of which have left indelible marks on the region's religious, political, and cultural fabric. Geographically, the Middle East's position spanning southeast Europe, North Africa, and Central Asia facilitated the rise of civilizations supported by fertile lands and vital trade routes along the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. This strategic geography not only cultivated prosperity but also predisposed the region to longstanding conflicts driven by competition over resources, territorial control, and ideological dominance (Braudel, 1995).

Early Christianity emerged in the 1st century CE, rooted in the teachings of Jesus of Nazareth. His teachings emphasized faith, morality, and the pursuit of spiritual salvation, which resonated with diverse populations across the Roman Empire. The Gospels, written posthumously, encapsulate his messages and portray Jesus as the savior whose crucifixion became the atonement for human sin, fostering an expansive religious movement within a few centuries (Levack, Muir, Maas, & Veldman, 2007). The spread of Christianity was facilitated by its adoption by Roman authorities and its appeal to marginalized populations, ultimately leading to the establishment of Christianity as a dominant religion in Europe and the Middle East. Theologically, Christianity introduced unique concepts of salvation, deliberately linked to Jewish monotheistic tradition yet distinct in its doctrine of the Trinity and the role of Jesus as divine (Roberts, 1996).

Islam, arising in the early 7th century CE, represented a spiritual and social revolution within Arabia. Prophet Muhammad received divine revelations over a period from 610 to 612 CE, which were compiled into the Quran—the sacred text of Islam. The Quran provided comprehensive guidance on law, morality, spirituality, and community life, presenting a strict monotheistic worldview centered on submission to the will of Allah. The five pillars of Islam—faith, prayer, fasting, charity, and pilgrimage—form the core practice and moral obligations of Muslims (Goldschmidt, 2006). The rapid expansion of Islam through military conquests, trade, and missionary activities transformed large parts of the Middle East, North Africa, and beyond, fostering a shared cultural and religious identity across diverse peoples.

Jerusalem holds special significance in both Jewish and Islamic traditions. Historically, it was established as the Hebrew capital under King David around 1010 BCE, when it became the repository of the Ark of the Covenant, symbolizing divine connection and unity among Hebrew tribes. Solomon’s construction of the First Temple further entrenched the city’s religious importance. Later, Jerusalem became a nexus for religious conflicts and spiritual developments, serving as a holy city for Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Such layered religious significance has often been a source of conflict yet also a catalyst for intercultural dialogue and coalescence (Levack, 2007).

The region's history illustrates how geography, religious doctrines, and cultural interactions have shaped the ongoing dynamics of conflict and cooperation. Religious institutions and beliefs have functioned both as unifying forces and sources of tension—narratives that continue to influence geopolitical issues today. As the Middle East reflects a confluence of diverse civilizations, understanding its early religious roots provides critical insight into the complex interplay of faith, power, and identity that continues to characterize the region amidst modern challenges.

References

• Braudel, F. (1995). A history of civilizations (R. Mayne, Trans.). New York: Penguin.
• Goldschmidt, A. (2006). A concise history of the Middle East. Boulder, CO: Westview.
• Levack, B. P., Muir, E., Maas, M., & Veldman, M. (2007). The West: Encounters & transformations. New York: Longman.
• Roberts, J. M. (1996). A history of Europe. New York: Penguin.
• Roberts, J. M. (1997). A history of Europe. New York: Penguin.
• Virtual Israel experience (n.d.). Retrieved August 20, 2007, from the Jewish Virtual Library website.