The Black Death How Different Were Christian and Muslim...

In 1346 European traders began to hear reports about earthquakes, floods, locusts, famine, and plague in faraway China. They knew very little then that the plague they were hearing about would follow the same trade routes to the Middle East, North Africa, and Europe that they themselves used. (doc. 1) In five short years, the plague killed between 25 and 45% of the populations it encountered. (doc 2) So how different were the Christian and Muslim responses? In 1348 Christianity and Islam came face to face with the Black Death. (doc. 3A) In truth, Muslims and Christians responded in many different ways. Their ideas for what caused the Black Death were somewhat different from each other also. Even the way they thought they could cure the†¦show more content†¦For the Muslims’ point of view Muhammad al-Manbiji stated that â€Å"†¦ a Muslim should devoutly accept the divine act.† The way Muslims wanted to cure the disease was to simply accept the fact that it w as there. They didn’t want to tamper with God but instead move on and continue their life. After a while of the plague not disappearing, a lot of people of different religions were starting to get desperate. Ibn Battuta wrote â€Å"The entire population of the city (of Damascus) joined†¦ (all) of them in tears†¦ imploring the favor of God through His Books and His Prophets.† (doc. 9) Finally, after not a lot was happening to keep the Black Death away, Muslims, Christians and Jews alike were getting together in order to find a way to cure themselves from the plague. Although they ended up getting together in order to see what would work, Muslims’ responses were still as a whole more peaceful and calm than that of the Christians. So how different were the Christian and Muslim Responses really? I myself think they were very different indeed in a way that the Muslims’ ideals were just a lot more peaceful than the Christians. The Muslims’ resp onse to the Bubonic Plague was to simply accept it other than try to prevent it like the Christians. Muslims thought the cause was a blessing from God while Christians though they were being punished. The Muslims had a more positive view on the whole thing. Even they way Muslims thought they could cure the Black Death was to just accept it andShow MoreRelatedBlack Death Dbq1206 Words   |  5 PagesMuslim and Christian DBQ From the depths of the Middle East during the Post-Classical period, two of the most powerful world religions emerged. Islam and Christianity, although sharing many similarities, also had their fair share of disagreements, one being their responses to the Black Death. The religion, demography, and interactions all contributed to the differentiation of Muslim and Christian reactions. Christians thought that the Black Death was sent from God as a punishment and blamed the