Handel, moral och monoteism : Religion och förmoderna handelsnätverk

Sammanfattning: This essay examines, from a religious psychological perspective and with references to current religious psychological theories, possible connections between religion and long-distance trade in pre-modern societies, with an emphasis on the Silk Road. These possible connections concern both the role of religion in trade itself; for example, in the form of supernatural monitoring and costly signaling of credibility, as well as the role of long-distance trade in the spread and formation of religions. This essay also touches on the historical context in which the Silk Road had its greatest significance for both trade and religion; from the 2nd century BC until the end of the 15th century AD, to shed light on how historical factors such as technology, politics and societal organization interacts and intertwines with religion and trade.