Religion and Development of Cities
Christianity and Islam have significantly influenced the world. The relation between these religions and the world’s social, political, and economic institutions can be traced to the different views that each group held, especially in the early days. While technology and human development have reduced the effect of religions on society today, early civilizations were significantly shaped by the religions they followed. Damascus and Rome are examples of how instrumental religions influenced the political, social, and social pillars of early societies.
Damascus is one of the oldest cities in the world, and its strategic positions as a link between Asia and Africa allowed the ancient city to borrow its early outlook from Hellenistic, Roman, and Byzantine civilizations (Poirson & Oprisko, 2014). The rise of the Umayyad caliphate, which made the city its capital, transformed the view of the city by allowing Islamic viewpoints on governance to influence the city’s development. Poirson and Oprisko (2014) note that the construction of the great mosque at the center of the city, coupled with utilities such as madrasas, public baths, and khans, turned the city into a model Islamic capital. The transformation to fit the Islamic rulers’ views is evidence of the development of Damascus due to Islam.
Rome was the capital of the Roman Empire, and it remained one of the most potent capitals during the early ages. According to Crow (2014), the collapse of the empire and its fragmentations saw the city fall under the rule of Germanic rulers. From the 6th century to the 8th century, the only Greek relic that remained in Rome was the Catholic Church, which epitomized Christianity. The religion influenced Rome during the period by creating a city that reflected its views. State and religious institutions were different, which led to the development of a city that did not mirror the Islamic model of having a religious symbol define the city (Crow, 2014). Christianity influenced Rome by shaping the city to reflect its views of a doctrine that differentiates the role of spiritual and political leaders of society.
Christianity and Islam were similar in shaping cities that reflected the beliefs of the religions. The cities of Rome and Damascus epitomized the religious beliefs of the civilizations that occupied them during the period. However, the two religions differed concerning the extent of their influence on development (Brodeur, 2016). Damascus developed as a city whose culture was significantly intertwined with Islam. The great mosque was the major attraction for the city, and amenities were aimed at ensuring the city served believers. The influence is evidence of the Islamic belief that religion should inform government policy, at least, as per the interpretation of rulers of that period (Poirson & Oprisko, 2014). On the other hand, the development of Rome as a capital that does not center around Christianity is evidence of the religious doctrine of allowing a state to handle political issues while religion addressed spiritual matters (Crow, 2014). In essence, Christianity and Islam influenced the development of cities in a manner that reflected their practices, but the level of influence varied between both religions.
Islam and Christianity influenced the development of cities, with Damascus and Rome being good examples. The two cities are evidence of the role played by religion in shaping political, economic, and social pillars. Understanding the relationship between religion and the way societies develop can be vital in helping to ensure societies coexist harmoniously. Thus, such studies should be encouraged as they have the potential of enabling the global community understand and handle challenges facing conflicting societies, especially in the volatile Middle East.