Geography of Religion Religious Landscapes Conflict and Interaction Cultural Geography C.J.Cox, Instructor

Religions Overview What is Religion? Major Religions & Their Divisions The Geography Religion Religious Landscapes Religious Conflict and Interaction

Religious Landscapes Sacred Structures –Temples / Pagodas –Churches / Basilicas –Mosques Sacred Sites –mountains –rivers –caves

Holy Places reflect the Religious Beliefs Ethnic religions rooted in a distinctive physical environment For example: –Hindu - The Ganges River in India. –Hindu - Himalayas Mt. Kalias in Nepal. Universal religions holy places are associated with the founder’s life. For example: –Christian - The city of Jerusalem –Muslim - The city of Mecca –Buddhist- Locations of important events in Buddha's life.

Rome- Christian Jerusalem - Jewish -Christian -Moslem Ganges River-Hindu Salt Lake City -Mormon Lhasa -Buddhist Medina- Muslim Mecca -Muslim Gaya and Lumbini-Buddhist Selected Religious Landscapes of the World Tenochitlan -Aztec Himalayas- Hindu

How Did These Religions Diffuse to Where They Are? IslamChristianity Buddhist Traveling merchants go to North Africa Early believers spread ideas to the Roman Empire. European Colonization spreads Christianity worldwide. Monks travel into China, Tibet and Southeast Asia. Sea routes to Indonesia and Philippines introduced Islam. Ocean trading routes to China brought Buddhism. Missionaries Alliance with powerful communist countries. Alliance with technologically powerful western world & capitalism. Powerful kingdom of Magadhan Empire helped establish religion.

Structure often dominates landscape with spirals, towers, or roofs Center of city or village often used for gathering of community Structure used as a reference point Commonalties of Holy Locations

WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF A HOLY PLACE A place of worship and teaching. - Church A space for prayer. -Mosques Buildings to house relics and artifacts or entomb a leader. –Pagodas, Temples & Pyramids A environmental astronomical calendar A destination goal.-pilgrimage Create an environment in the image of God or gods

Buddhist Stupas Thailand Cambodia Tibet Buddhist Landscapes

Buddhist Stupa, Chiang Mai, Thailand

Grand Palace, Bangkok, Thailand Buddhist Temple, Louang pPhrabang, Laos

Tibetan Buddhist Prayer WheelsTibetan Landscapes

Wat Chedi Luang, Chang Mai Thailand Grand Palace, Bangkok Thailand

Borobodour, Indonesia Golden Temple, Kyoto Japan

Buddhist Temple, Kharkorin, Mongolia Angor Wat, Cambodia

Christian Landscapes Catholic Church, San Jose, CASaint Peters Church, Vatican

Toledo, Spain Segovia, Spain (1577)

Church of Resurrection Saint Petersburg, Russia St. Basil, Moscow, Russia

Russian Orthodox Church in Jerusalem

Cathedral at Chartres, France

Templo Expiatrorio de al Sagrada Familia, Spain

Saint Peters at the Vatican, Rome Italy

Taj Mahal, Agra inNW India (mausoleum) Muslim Landscapes

Alhambra, Granada, Spain Moorish (Muslim) Córdoba, Spain

Sultan Dascan Mosque, Madrasa

Saint Sophia, Istanbul Turkey

The Kaba in Mecca, Saudi Arabia

Hindu Landscape

Western Wall, Jerusalem Masada, Israel Jewish Landscapes

Confucious Temple in Taiwan Temple of Kukuklan, Chitchen Itzu Ethnic & Animist Religious Landscapes

Ziggurat, Ur Iraq

Machu Picchu, Peru

Easter Island Stonehenge, England

Parthenon, Athens Greece Temple of Sobek, Egypt

Indian Grinding Rock Urulu, Australia

Religions Overview What is Religion? Major Religions & Their Divisions The Geography Religion Religious Landscapes Religious Conflict and Interaction

Religious Conflicts & Interactions Israel - a case study Jerusalem - mixed quarters –Jewish quarter –Muslim - temple mount –Christian orthodox quarter

Western Wall & Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem

Religions Overview What is Religion? Major Religions & Their Divisions The Geography Religion Religious Landscapes Religious Conflict and Interaction