Compare and contrast the treatment of different religions by rulers of the Arab empire in three sentences.

Answer 1

Rulers of the Arab Empire, particularly during the Umayyad and Abbasid caliphates, generally practiced a policy of relative tolerance toward various religions, allowing Jews and Christians to maintain their faiths as "dhimmis" with certain protections and taxes. However, the treatment of other religions, such as Zoroastrianism, was less accommodating, often leading to forced conversions and persecution as the ruling Islamic elite sought to solidify their authority. Over time, while some rulers promoted interfaith dialogue and integration, others adhered to a more orthodoxy-driven approach, reflecting the complexities and regional variations within the empire.