4. What can be inferred about the relationship between Orthodox Christians and Muslims at the time of Nikitin's writing?

It can be inferred that Orthodox Christians and Muslims had a good relationship at the time of Nikitin's writing.

Explanation:

"Although  Nikitin does not say so in his account, this was most likely not his first encounter trading with Muslims,  and a certain familiarity and respect for their traditions already existed. Hostilities did not exclusively  define relations between Orthodox Muslims and Russians, contrary to Russian chronicle accounts.  Frequently, religious tolerance, princely intermarriage, military cooperation, and, above all, mutually  supportive trade relations characterized Rus'-Islam relations. "

Taken from “Afanasii Nikitin: An Orthodox Russian's Spiritual Voyage in the Dar al-Islam, 1468–1475”  by Mary Jane Maxwell

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