spread of world religions from the axial age to the end of the first millennium

Spread of World Religions

From the Axial Age to the end of the First Millennium

Forced Conversion Islamic World

jihad=striving internal struggle versus evil external war against enemies of faith

initially against Muhammad’s enemies after death against “apostates” then Byzantium and Sasanid

enemies allowed to convert or pay tax or go to war

Islamic Expansion

Forced Conversion cont. The Christian World – Christendom

Charlemagne 700’s Saxons given choice of baptism or death

Alfred the Great Celts convert for peace

Olaf of Norway torture or conversion

Buddhism Asoka Kaniska of Peshawar Anuruddha took Buddhism to Burma

Charlemagne’s Empire

Charlemagne

Alfred the Great of Wessex

King Olaf of Norway

Spread by Trade Silk Road for Buddhism (dominate)

Chinese monks built temples endowed by merchants

Uighurs steppe people serving as mercenary caravan

guards picked up Manichaeism

derivative of Zoroastrianism sparked temple building eventually replaced by Buddhism

Spread by Trade cont. Christianity

only moderately successful on Silk Road few Christians engaged in long-range trade

Armenians kept to selves Nestorians = human Jesus vs. divine Jesus

some patches of temple building Islam

expanded via sea routes mosques in merchant communities

China E. Africa

Saharan trade routes took Islam West

Conversion of Kings start at top and watch religion trickle down Early Christianity

social outcasts Religion of “slaves and women” initially hostile to wealth

religion grew as women evangelized husbands children

minority religion until 4th century

Conversion of Kings cont. Constantine 312 AD converts to Christianity

at battle of Milvian Bridge converted to gain political backing for bid for

Empire mixed pagan “unconquered sun” with Christian

ideas “Lord of Hosts” not “God of Love” Christianity no longer persecuted Eventually Christianity official religion of Roman

Empire Loses traditional pacifism

Conversion of Constantine

Conversion of Kings cont. King Ezana of Ethiopia converts to

Christianity in the 340’s Believed to be son of Ethiopian war god At end of his life converted and waged war under

the banner of “Lord of Hosts” built churches

King Trdat of Armenia converts in 314 AD converted to gain alliance with Rome and

Constantine

King Ezana

King Trdat

Diplomatic Conversions

Small kingdoms between Rome and Persia shifted religions with alliances Christian Zoroastrian Muslim

Buddhism and Politics

China Often used by new monarchs to

legitimize rule Buddhism never wholly dominant

traditional rituals Confucianism Chinese distrust of foreigners periodically persecuted

820s-840s AD thousands monasteries dissolved

Buddhism and Politics cont. Korea approximately 500 AD

Buddhism brought to Koguryo by refugees from China

quickly reconciled with traditional Korean religion Slow to spread beyond

Japan approximately 600 AD diplomacy with Korea refugees from China reconcile with Shintoism

government and religion same word animism Japanese Buddhism distinctive mix

Buddhism and Politics cont. Tibet

slow monastic colonization chose Theraveda over Mahayana Buddhism didn’t adopt until late 800’s

India Buddhism unsuccessful as state religion Huns seen as proof of Buddhism failure driven back to traditional gods

Codified with caste system into Hinduism

The Russians and Christianity Converted on Constantinian model

Vladimir of Kiev History of paganism

Needed to break power of priesthood to set up kingdom

Searched for religion Discovers Muslims (no good) Visits Hagia Sophia and is impressed Convert to Orthodox Christianity and marries

Byzantine princess (Anna Porphyrogenita) Required services in Slavic language

(beginning of Russian orthodoxy)

Vladimir of Kiev

Hagia Sophia

Kiev, capital of modern Ukraine

Islam and the Turks

Turks warlike central Asian people Karakhanids – first Turks to be Islamic Brought new manpower and warriors to

Islam Seljuk Turks convert in 985 AD and

descendants would come to rule empire

Turkish Warriors

Monasticism and Religion

Christian Monasticism Upheld Roman tradition of learning

Different types of monks Benedictine (founded by Benedict 542 AD)

Changed pagan shrines to St. shrines Sought to instate paradise on earth Isolation and contemplation

Various other orders

Benedictine Monks

Monasticism in other Religions

Monasticism more important in Buddhism than in Christianity Withdrawal from world to find religion Preserver of learning

Islamic Sufism Muhammad was against asceticism

Christian monastic roots too deeply engraved

Mystics – fasting and meditation

Buddhist Monks

Women in Religions

Guardians of religious tradition

Nuns – prayer and scholarship

What makes a World Religion

FLEXIBILITY

ADAPTABILITY