Spread of World Religions From the Axial Age to the end of the First Millennium
Mar 26, 2015
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