Christian-Muslim relations in the Indian subcontinent - Encyclopaedia of Islam, THREE
General Material Designation
[Article]
First Statement of Responsibility
Powell, Avril
.PUBLICATION, DISTRIBUTION, ETC
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Leiden
Name of Publisher, Distributor, etc.
Brill
GENERAL NOTES
Text of Note
(1,681 words)
SUMMARY OR ABSTRACT
Text of Note
The presence of Christians in the Indian subcontinent reflects various evangelistic activities pursued between the first century CE and the present, mainly by Syrian Orthodox, Roman Catholic, and Protestant missionaries. West Asian merchants, who sometimes married Indian women, also created Christian settlements. Some merchants (notably Syrian Christians) evangelised, but others (notably Armenians) restricted themselves to commerce and the performance of intermediary services for the ruling authorities. The Christian presence was further increased when European traders (especially Portuguese and British) assumed political roles, practising Christianity themselves and supporting missionary agencies. Christians,