1. ACTIVITY: (Use “Universal Religion” Assignment)
Focus: What were the major similarities and differences between the development and spread of Buddhism, Christianity and Islam?
ACTIVITY: (Use “Universal Religion” Assignment)
Create a mental map of the Eastern hemisphere that indicates the following: USE PENCIL!
a. The origin of your religion.
b. The places that it spread to. Be sure to also briefly explain the reactions these cultures had to the new religion and/or ways that religion was altered by the new culture. Place these “reactions” next to the new cultures.
Be sure to indicate the names of the places (AP World History Regions and actual empires if appropriate)
Label the top of your map with the heading: “The Spread of ______________”

2. Southeast Asian Buddah

3. Chinese Buddah

4. BUDDHISM
Began in Northern India in 528 B.C.E. – appealed to lower classes – disregarded social class systems.
3rd century B.C.E. – 1st century C.E. – Mahayana Buddhism evolves.
Early centuries C.E. – foreign merchants introduce Buddhism along the Silk Roads. Little native Chinese interest initially, but Buddhists built temples and actively introduced their ideas.
Fall of the Han Dynasty – (500’s) – Confucian values lose credibility – Buddhist ideas gain popularity by early Tang Dynasty. Some Tang officials see it as a threat to government wealth and a violation of Confucian values.
Song Dynasty endorses/supports Buddhism. Temples are centers of revenue and charity.
Buddhist missionaries blend native Chinese ideas with Buddhist concepts:
Chan Buddhism – (syncretic) – dharma/dao, nirvana/wu wei
Neo-Confucianism – Metaphysical elements – li=physical and qi=ideas – attempted blend the practical with the metaphysical (spiritual).

5. Depiction of Jesus

6. CHRISTIANITY
Approximately 32 C.E. Jesus of Nazareth is crucified – a sect of Jews believe he was the Messiah – early Christians.
1st century C.E. - Paul of Tarsus (and other early Christians) formed communities in the Mediterranean Basin. Early Christians are persecuted by Roman authorities. Appealed to lower classes and women – taught spiritual equality and freedom.
Early centuries C.E. – early Christians in Mesopotamia and Egypt practiced strict ascetic regimes (pillar saints) – inspired by Indians. Nestorian Christians spread Eastward along the Silk Roads.
310 – Constantine converts – Edict of Milan
380 – Theodosius declares Christianity the official religion of the Roman Empire. St. August attempts to reconcile Christian doctrine with Greek and Roman logic.
500’s-Axumite Kingdom in Africa (Ethiopia) – Christian but retains traditional African amulets against evil spirits – isolated from other Christians (due to Muslims)
Collapse of Rome – the Pope in Rome fills the power vacuum in terms of leadership for the Western European leaders. Monasteries provide charity.
800’s-900’s – Frankish Carolingian Kings ally with Pope – Christianity spreads further north. By
1054 – Christianity splits – (The Schism) – Rome/Pope/Roman Catholic and Constantinople/Patriarch/Eastern Orthodox (who spread religion and written language to Russia and other Slavic people).
By 1400’s – Western Europe primarily is Roman Catholic – Kings and Popes alternately cooperate and fight with each other.

7. Islamic Calligraphy

8. ISLAM
632 – Islam unifies tribes on the Saudi Arabian peninsula through jihad
’s – Expand throughout the Middle East, North Africa and parts of Southern Europe. Muslims begin to trade and settle in India.
Shia and Sunni split.
700’s – 1400’s – Growth of the dar al’Islam.
-Bascially tolerant of non-believers – jizya tax for non-Muslims
-Adapted the veiling of women and administrative techniques from Persia and Byzantines.
-Borrowed math and science concepts from India (Hindi numerals, 0)
-Borrowed Greek philosophy, math and science from Greeks (algebra)
-Africans adopted Islam through trans-Saharan trade – maintained African traditions (sexes co-mingle, women do not veil themselves.
-Muslim communities develop along the coasts of India (won appeal among lower caste and Bhakti Movement forms) and China – mainly as merchants.
1000’s – Sufi mystics taught an emotional/non-doctrinal form of Islam – made it popular and accessible (eg. Persia and India).
1200’s-1400’s – Arabs transmit ideas, technology (naval, agricultural) to Western Europe (Southern Spain).

9. Focus: What were the major similarities and differences between the development and spread of Buddhism, Christianity and Islam?
START UP:
What factors allowed your religion to gain extensive support?
Broad Appeal
Conquest
Support of leaders
Why didn’t Judaism, Hinduism or Confuscianism have a broader appeal?
Discuss the cultural adaptations and trasformations

10. Share it Out! Return to your original groups and explain:
a) how your assigned religion grew and spread to other areas.
b) the reactions these cultures had to the new religion and/or ways that religion was altered by the new culture (the culture that it spread to).

11. Homework- Comparative Essay
Explain the major similarities and differences between the development and spread of TWO of the religions listed below.
Buddhism
Christianity
Islam
Create a comprehensive, analytical and explicit thesis. Be sure to consider the following in your brainstorming processl
Time, connections, interactions, continuity and change, cause and effect?
Have you provided ample historical evidence to prove your thesis?
Have you made direct comparisons and contrasts between and among societies?
Have you related your comparisons to a larger global/historical context?
Have you consistently analyzed the causes of the similarities and/or differences?
f. Have you addressed all parts (similarities and/or differences, both topics and/or regions) of the question thoroughly?