1. Yesterday and Today Previous Class (1.7): Notes for Topic 1.7
Homework Due Today (1.8):
Read Chapter 1, Section 4, Pages 22-31: The European Heritage (Textbook).
Continue working on the Unit 1 Map Project and studying for the map portion of the Unit 1 Exam with the practice quizzes on the Seterra Geography website (due for Topic 1.13).
Today’s Agenda (1.8):
Notes for Topic 1.8

2. 1.8: Christianity and Colonists
Unit 1: Three Worlds Collide (c )

3. I. Introduction
In the last class you learned that monarchs and governments were primarily motivated to seek out overseas colonies by economic factors, specifically by the economic philosophy of mercantilism. Today we will look at how individual colonists and settlers were often motivated by religious factors, and specifically how the divisions within Christianity pushed people out of Europe because of religious hardship, and pulled them to America for religious freedom.

4. II. Classifying Religions
A. What religion are you? If someone asked you this question, how would you answer it? What word or term do you use to classify your religious beliefs? What are some other terms that you know of that are names of religions or churches? I will compile your answers on the white board and we will use these examples to begin discussing methods for classifying religious beliefs. B. Most of these terms on the white board describe religious beliefs. Some of them overlap with others on the board though because they are either more specific or more general terms for the same religion. C. Most major world religions have developed through history into a few main branches, and then those branches have further developed into even more specific denominations.

5. III. Five Major World Religions
A. Approximately 75 percent of people in the world belong to one of the five major world religions. What are the names of these religions? We will discuss together and then fill in the table below. 1. Table of World Religions and Locations:  Judaism never really spreads or becomes a dominant religion, but is considered one of the five major world religions because of its significant impact on world history and the fact that Christianity and Islam both developed from it 2. Map of World Religions (Presentation Only):
Five Major World Religions
Religion
Origin
Dominant Today 1.
Judaism
Middle East
Israel (Middle East)  2.
Christianity
Europe, Americas, Parts of Africa and Asia 3.
Islam 4.
Hinduism
South Asia 5.
Buddhism
East Asia, Southeast Asia

7. B. Since Christianity became the dominant religion in Europe, and practically everyone coming to the Americas during the time period of this course came from Europe, we need to study Christianity in more detail. It will be impossible to understand the people in this course, or their ideas and actions, without having an understanding of the religion they brought with them to the Americas. C. Since there was practically no one coming to the Americas from other parts of the world during the time period of this course, there is very little need to discuss the other four major world religions. Symbolically cross them off in the table above to make that point.

8. IV. Four Main Branches of Christianity
A. Christianity has developed into four main branches throughout history. The reasons for this will be verbally explained by me as we complete the diagram below. 1. Development of Christianity Flowchart (Notes Only): 2. The four main branches of Christianity in Europe today are: a) Eastern Orthodoxy – dominant in Eastern Europe b) Roman Catholicism – dominant in SW Europe c) Protestantism – dominant in NW Europe d) Anglicanism – dominant in England (NW Europe) 3. Map of Christian Branches in Europe (Presentation Only)

10. 4. Since practically everyone coming to the Americas during the time
4. Since practically everyone coming to the Americas during the time period of this course was from Western Europe, they were predominantly Roman Catholic, Protestant, or Anglican. Since there was practically no one coming from Eastern Europe, there is very little need to discuss Eastern Orthodoxy. Symbolically cross it off in the list above to make that point.

11. Summary of American Colonial Push-Pull Factors
V. Conclusion
Since practically everyone coming to the Americas during the time period of this course was from Europe, and more specifically Western Europe; Christianity, and more specifically Roman Catholicism, Protestantism, and Anglicanism, will play a central role in this course. These divisions and differences within Christianity served as a primary push-pull factor for individual colonists and settlers as people were pushed out of places because of religious hardship and pulled to new places for religious freedom. These divisions also motivated rulers and individuals who wanted to spread their version of Christianity to new lands and new people. The following table summarizes the main idea from the past two lessons:
Summary of American Colonial Push-Pull Factors
Who
Primary Push-Pull Factor
Specific Reason
Monarchs
Economic Factors
Mercantilism
Colonists
Religious Factors
Divisions Caused by Protestant Reformation

12. Homework for Next Class
Read Chapter 2, Section 1, Pages 32-43: The Age of Exploration (Textbook).
2. Complete Guided Reading 2.1
3. Continue working on the Unit 1 Map Project and studying for the map portion of the Unit 1 Exam with the practice quizzes on the Seterra Geography website (due for Topic 1.13).