Costly Islamic displays enabled trade and credit trust in Africa
Evidence
In her study of the spread of Islam into Africa, Ensminger argues that Islamic beliefs, supported by powerful displays of faith such as abstaining from alcohol, avoiding preand extramarital sex, not consuming pork, and ritual fasting—permitted greater trust, shared rules of exchange, and the use of credit institutions among converted Muslims. The spread of Islam in turn facilitated more trade and greater economic success. The Orma—a Kenyan pastoralist group, and other African tribes began adopting Muslim religious beliefs along with the associated institutions and rituals. Islam was also imposed on conquered groups, causing the spread of these religious beliefs and practices in Africa. — Norenzayan, Ara, Big gods - how religion transformed…, 489
Categorization
Category: Causal Relationships
Related
- Hard-to-fake religious displays enabled trust and credit among converts (similarity 0.89)
- Big God belief plus costly displays boosted Islamic trade success in Africa (similarity 0.89)
- Islamic conversion in Africa spread via the economic trust its institutions enabled. (similarity 0.89)
- Religious belief in divine sanctions lowers transaction costs in long-distance trade. (similarity 0.82)
- Trade networks spread Islam across Africa and Southeast Asia more than armies did (similarity 0.81)
Broader Connections
- Islamic belief self-enforced contracts, cutting transaction costs across the Sahara
#corroborates(0.90) — Norenzayan, Ara, Big gods - how religion transformed…, 203 - Costly displays distinguish sincere believers from fakers
#expands(0.85) — Norenzayan, Ara, Big gods - how religion transformed…, 130 - Ethnic and religious solidarity jointly cemented trust in Armenian and Jewish trade
#corroborates(0.78) — Norenzayan, Ara, Big gods - how religion transformed…, 201