The Roman Empire had begun to decline. Its economy was overburdened by a huge army. Stagnating production had led to the imposition of heavy taxes. Consequently, the social structure became extremely exploitative. ''.
Christianity, most probably, grew out of the distress and protest of the slaves and other common people of the Roman Empire. It is no accident that it first arose among the Jews whowere the most oppressed. They were also imbued with the spirit of rejecting any compromise with the powers of this world. The popular appeal of Christianity lay in its outward submissiveness combined with absolute determination to have no part in the prevailing oppressive and sinful society. This also led to its persecution, which gave it even greater appeal and strength. Christianity spread rapidly among all people. Very soon it was no more confined to the lower classes. Its teachings became influenced by the prevalent social ideas. Within a few centuries, the Church itself established the rule of dogmas and became a partner in maintaining the state. By the sixth century A.D., people on the eastern borders of the Roman Empire began to identify Christianity with an alien, hostile and oppressive government. However, we find that to these negative factors, there was soon added a positive one-the appearance and spread of a new religion, Islam, in the seventh century A.D. Islam incorporated what was most agreeable in Christianity. With its message of universal brotherhood, simple but exacting personal conduct and a sure hope of realistic paradise for the believer, it soon found popular support. As the Arabs from Syria and Iraq came to conquer lands stretching upto the Mediterranean with the message of Islam, they very often found little resistance from the local population. Soon a vast area stretching from Spain to India came under the influence of Islam and, thus, extensive trade and cultural exchanges became possible. The flourishing trade gave rise to demand for commoditiesl This, in turn, encouraged invention of new techniques for making steel, paper, silk, porcelain etc.