The Migration of the World’s Religions

Judaism

Christianity

Islam Buddhism

Taoism

Hinduism

Click here to take the quiz on world religions

Islam• Origins in the teachings of

Muhammad, born in 570 AD.– Muhammad spent most of his life in Mecca

and Medina, in present day Saudi Arabia.

• Initially spread through expansion diffusion during Muhammad’s life.– Expansion diffusion: the spread of ideas

through contact between cultures

• Islam spread through conquest over the next 700 years, engulfing most of Central Asia and North Africa.– This became the Ottoman Empire

• Today, Islam is prominent in Central Asia, the Middle East, and North Africa.

• It is still one of the 3 most prominent religions in the world.

Christianity• Origins in the teachings of Jesus, born

in Jerusalem around 0 A.D.• Christianity reached out to all people,

not just a chosen race.– First spread through the underclasses– Spread quickly throughout the Roman

Empire during the first two centuries A.D. thanks to the ease of travel.

• Rome became the center of Christianity and became the official religion of the Empire in 313 A.D. under the Emperor Constantine– Hierarchical diffusion

• After the fall of the Empire, Christianity split, but continued to spread through widespread missionaries.

• Today, there are an estimated 2.1 billion Christians spread all throughout the world.

Judaism• Beliefs of Judaism laid the foundation

for Christianity and Islam.• Origins in the Near East, near present

day Israel, however its exact origins are unclear.

• An “ethnic” religion, believing they are part of a race “chosen” by God.

• Early conquests in the Middle East helped the religion expand.

• Jews were dispersed after being conquered by several different groups…a religion without a home.

• During the 13th-16th centuries, developed strongholds in Poland, Lithuania and Russia.

• During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, a movement began to recreate a Jewish country.

• Present day Israel founded in 1948.

Hinduism• The world’s oldest major religion.• Traces back at least 4000 years.• Roots in the Indus River Valley, in

present day Pakistan.• Spread south and southeast through

contagious diffusion.– Overtook many local religions

• Developed strongholds throughout Southeast Asia.

• Has its strongest present day followings in India, Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam.

• Pockets of the religion have recently spread to Western Europe and North America.

Buddhism• Traces its roots to reformers revolting

against Hinduism in the 6th century B.C. in India

• Founded by Siddhartha Gautama, the Buddha (Enlightened One).

• Focuses on an explanation for evil and human suffering, and the path to “enlightenment.”

• Spread by “contagious diffusion” throughout India. Made the state religion in the 3rd century B.C.

• Continued to expand abroad through Southeast Asia, but was reabsorbed by Hinduism in India.

• Spread to China, but suffered with the spread of Communism.

• Today, it is hard to know how many Buddhists remain. Anywhere from 225 million to 500 million worldwide.

Taoism (East Asian Religions)• Reform movements and religious

merging among Buddhists and Hindus led to a series of ethnic religions appearing in China.

• Taoism is among the most prominent of these.

• Initially popular among the higher classes in Chinese society, it lost power in 14th-17th centuries A.D.

• Changed its doctrine to appeal to the lower classes, forming a much more simplified religion.

• Today it remains widespread in China and East Asia, but has spread very little elsewhere.

3) Started in the Middle East and spread through the Roman Empire, eventually becoming it’s

state religion. Today is spread throughout the world with 2.1 billion members:

Judaism

Christianity

Islam Buddhism

Taoism

Hinduism

4) Started in India and became it’s state religion for a time. Lost power there to another religion,

but today is prominent throughout Southeast Asia:

Judaism

Christianity

Islam Buddhism

Taoism

Hinduism

5) Started in what is today known as Saudi Arabia. Expanded greatly through conquests

and war. Today is prominent in Central Asia, the Middle East, and North Africa:

Judaism

Christianity

Islam Buddhism

Taoism

Hinduism

CORRECT!!Now, let’s take another look at how the religions spread:

6) Ethnic religion with its origins near present day Israel. Dispersed after losing its homeland to conquering foreigners, but today once again

has a home state:

Judaism

Christianity

Islam Buddhism

Taoism

Hinduism

Close, but not quite:

Judaism

Christianity

Islam Buddhism

Taoism

Hinduism

Try again…

1) The world’s oldest major religion, with its roots in present day Pakistan:

Judaism

Christianity

Islam Buddhism

Taoism

Hinduism

Not exactly…

Judaism

Christianity

Islam Buddhism

Taoism

Hinduism

Try again…

CORRECT!!

Judaism

Christianity

Islam Buddhism

Taoism

Hinduism

Go to Question #2

2) Started as a mix of Buddhism and Hinduism, and has not spread much outside of East Asia:

Judaism

Christianity

Islam Buddhism

Taoism

Hinduism

Ooh, just missed it:

Judaism

Christianity

Islam Buddhism

Taoism

Hinduism

Try again…

CORRECT!!

Judaism

Christianity

Islam Buddhism

Taoism

Hinduism

Go to Question #3

CORRECT!!

Judaism

Christianity

Islam Buddhism

Taoism

Hinduism

Go to Question #4

CORRECT!!

Judaism

Christianity

Islam Buddhism

Taoism

Hinduism

Go to Question #5

CORRECT!!

Judaism

Christianity

Islam Buddhism

Taoism

Hinduism

Go to Question #6

Are you sure?

Judaism

Christianity

Islam Buddhism

Taoism

Hinduism

Try again…

I think not:

Judaism

Christianity

Islam Buddhism

Taoism

Hinduism

Try again…

For each question, click on the religion it describes:

Judaism

Christianity

Islam Buddhism

Taoism

Hinduism

Go to Question #1

Take another shot at it:

Judaism

Christianity

Islam Buddhism

Taoism

Hinduism

Try again…