Final answer:
In the early medieval period, religious toleration was present during times of peace and prosperity, as exemplified by the policy of convivencia in the Abbasid Caliphate. Conversely, religious divisions tended to arise from power struggles, religious dogmatism, or when rulers used religion as a rallying point for conflict. Religion's deep ties to identity meant it played a significant role in both unifying and dividing medieval societies.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the context of the early medieval period, religious toleration often occurred in times of relative peace and prosperity. For instance, during the Abbasid period in the Muslim world, non-Muslim communities were granted a degree of autonomy, with their own religious courts and the opportunity to practice their faith without compulsion to convert, in what was known as the convivencia. This toleration provided practical benefit to the Muslim rulers by ensuring the stability and productivity of their diverse subjects. However, these conditions changed when religious conviction was used as a means of unifying or rallying groups against one another. Situations such as power struggles, religious dogmatism, and external pressures often led to a demand for greater religious conformity and increased division.
Furthermore, religion was closely tied to identity and politics; hence, it could serve as a unifying cultural force or a source of conflict within and between different political entities. In medieval societies, religious beliefs were integral to societal organization, law, and education. Schisms within a religion or conflicts between faiths could lead to persistent strife, as seen in the Crusades and other historical examples of inter-religious and intra-religious conflicts.