Slide Show #9:Slide Show #9:

The Rise of World Religions: The Rise of World Religions:

Christianity, Islam, and Christianity, Islam, and BuddhismBuddhism

Review QuestionsReview Questions 1.) WHY DID Buddhism, Christianity, and Islam become world

religions? 2.) WHAT role did trade and warfare play in the spread of these

religions? 3.) WHY DID missionaries seek to convert rulers and elites? 4.) HOW DID Christian and Muslim rulers deal with religious

minorities? 5.) WHAT was the role of monasticism and asceticism in each of

these religions? 6.) WHAT ROLE did women play in the consolidation and spread of world religions? 7.) HOW DID Christianity, Buddhism, and Islam accommodate

themselves to local cultures?

World Religion: Necessary ConditionsWorld Religion: Necessary Conditions

Religion must be open to allReligion must be open to all Most ancient religions are gender-specific or Most ancient religions are gender-specific or

culturally specificculturally specific Religion must appeal to all levels of society: poor, Religion must appeal to all levels of society: poor,

middle, elitesmiddle, elites Offering spiritual transcendence--personal salvationOffering spiritual transcendence--personal salvation Allowing one to belong to something larger than Allowing one to belong to something larger than

oneselfoneself Need for opening to conversion:Need for opening to conversion:

times of turmoil, unrest, feeling that old religion isn’t times of turmoil, unrest, feeling that old religion isn’t workingworking

in personal circumstances that makes converting to in personal circumstances that makes converting to new religion a great advantage, or new religion a great advantage, or

in a position in which they can be coerced (defeated in a position in which they can be coerced (defeated in war)in war)

The Rise of World Religions to 1000 C.E.

How do religions spread? How do religions spread? All four of the following are often interlinked,

but let’s think about how each one works by itself.

TradeTrade Exchange of goods and exchange of ideasExchange of goods and exchange of ideas

Buddhism to East Asia along the Silk RouteBuddhism to East Asia along the Silk Route Islam into West Africa along the Saharan caravan routesIslam into West Africa along the Saharan caravan routes

WarWar Islamic EmpireIslamic Empire

Jihad: war as religious dutyJihad: war as religious duty Charlemagne’s conquests of pagan GermansCharlemagne’s conquests of pagan Germans

War in the service of the churchWar in the service of the church Conversion of Elites (Military, Political, Commercial)Conversion of Elites (Military, Political, Commercial)

ChristianityChristianity RomanRoman EthiopianEthiopian PersianPersian Georgians, other Central AsiansGeorgians, other Central Asians

BuddhistsBuddhists KoreansKoreans JapaneseJapanese

Elite sponsorship: ChristianityElite sponsorship: Christianity Constantine and RomeConstantine and Rome

Imperial favor brought Christian clergy into state bureaucracy.Imperial favor brought Christian clergy into state bureaucracy. Christians redefined educational system for the elite.Christians redefined educational system for the elite. State religion by the end of the fourth centuryState religion by the end of the fourth century Conversion by general population takes offConversion by general population takes off Conversion of neighboring states (Armenia, Georgian Conversion of neighboring states (Armenia, Georgian

kingdoms, Ethiopia) as a means of associating with Romekingdoms, Ethiopia) as a means of associating with Rome Persecution of non-Christians accelerates as Christianity Persecution of non-Christians accelerates as Christianity

spreadsspreads Elite sponsorship: IslamElite sponsorship: Islam

Takeover of Arabia, Syria, Mesopotamia, PersiaTakeover of Arabia, Syria, Mesopotamia, Persia Tolerance of Christians, Jews, ZoroastriansTolerance of Christians, Jews, Zoroastrians

Move to Arabic as official language throughout Move to Arabic as official language throughout Dar al-IslamDar al-Islam Taxes on non-Muslims create incentives to convert to IslamTaxes on non-Muslims create incentives to convert to Islam Periodic persecutions Periodic persecutions

Case Study: Rome and ChristianityCase Study: Rome and Christianity Mideast & IslamMideast & Islam

Galla Placidia. As matriarchs of households, and sometimes as powerful agents in the Roman state, women played vital roles in spreading and shaping Christianity. In the early fifth century, Galla Placidia, an emperor’s daughter, depicted here on a gold coin as “Principessa Augusta,” converted her first husband, the Visigoth King Athaulf, from heresy and from opposition to Rome. She not only built churches; she also intervened in the elections of popes and bishops and tried to influence church doctrine.

The Cathedral Doors of Gniezno. The bronze doors of the cathedral in Gniezno in Poland are both a masterpiece of the eleventh century and a document of the way political alliances spread Christianity. Boleslaus I (r. 992-1025)—the first ruler of Poland to call himself “king”— grew up at the court of the Emperor Otto III, who presented him with a relic incomparably sacred to a soldier— the lance that was supposed to have pierced Christ’s side at his Crucifixion. Of almost, equal importance were the relics of St. Adalbert -- a Slav martyr whose body Boleslaus bought from pagans in Prussia.

Christian and pagan cultures were so similar and so mixed in the fourth-century Roman Empire that it is sometimes hard to tell them apart. Here an emperor, having ridden in life in triumph on an elephant, is hoisted skyward by the chariot of the sun, which pagans worshipped as a god and Christian artists used as an image for Christ. Winged spirits ascend with the emperor’s soul, through the spheres of heaven, marked by the signs of the zodiac, top right, to the heavenly home of his ancestors. This is one of the last works of art that portrays a Roman emperor in a predominantly pagan setting. (But a Christian meaning)

The Jelling Stone. The Norse King Harold Bluetooth adopted Christianity in 965 and had commemorative stones carved with Christian symbols in memory of his parents, to atone for their paganism. The detail here shows the Crucifixion. “This Harold,” claims the inscription on the stones, “conquered all Denmark and Norway and turned the Danes to Christianity.”

Camel caravan is still the most practical way to cross the Sahara, and camels still carry part of the traditional salt trade there. Like other long-range trade routes, those across the Sahara in the middle ages were avenues for the transfer of culture, spreading Islam, for example, from North Africa to the kingdoms of the West African Sahel and the Niger valley.

The Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem marks the spot where, according to Muslim tradition, the Prophet Muhammad ascended to paradise. The Caliph Abd al-Malik built it in the late 600s, marking as sacred to Islam a city that Christians and Jews already revered. The splendor and scale of the building outdazzled and dwarfed the nearby Church of the Holy Sepulcher and the remains of the last Jewish Temple.

Tang dynasty in China.Tang dynasty in China. Imperial favor brought Buddhist clergy into the state Imperial favor brought Buddhist clergy into the state

bureaucracy.bureaucracy. Buddhist clergy give heightened legitimacy to rulers by Buddhist clergy give heightened legitimacy to rulers by

recognizing them as “enlightened” beings recognizing them as “enlightened” beings (Bodhisattvas), who are capable of helping others to (Bodhisattvas), who are capable of helping others to ‘enlightenment’‘enlightenment’

Buddhism spreads to neighboring states (Korea, Japan, Buddhism spreads to neighboring states (Korea, Japan, Indochina) that want to associate themselves with Indochina) that want to associate themselves with China.China.

Missionary activityMissionary activity Buddhist monks to ChinaBuddhist monks to China Christian monks into BritainChristian monks into Britain Islamic scholars, judges move across Asia, Africa, MideastIslamic scholars, judges move across Asia, Africa, Mideast

Case Study: Buddhism in Tang ChinaCase Study: Buddhism in Tang China

Dunhuang. The Silk Roads spread Buddhism as well as trade. Here—in a tenth-century example of the thousands of devotional paintings merchants endowed at the monastery of Dunhuang in Central Asia—a convert and his family pray at the feet of a Bodhisattva. Many Chinese converts to Buddhism retained the family values characteristic of Confucianism.

Xuanzang was the foremost Chinese Buddhist of the seventh century. He traveled the Silk Roads on a pilgrimage to India to visit the sites where the Buddha had lived and taught and to retrieve Buddhist manuscripts. He is depicted, some 250 years after his death, with typical items a Buddhist monk took on pilgrimage, including a censer to burn incense in worship and a rattle to attract alms from pious passersby. The tiger alludes to his visit to the spot where, according to legend, the Buddha, moved by compassion, gave his life to feed a starving tiger. Reunion des Musees Nationaux/Art Resource, NY

Priests, officials, and bystanders (shown prostrating themselves, on the right) greet the pilgrim Xuanzang on his return to China from India, where he had traveled to find Buddhist scriptures. Pack horses bear the sacred texts he had acquired to a temple on the left. Monks at the rear carry holy relics.

Prince Shotoku. As regent for the first reigning Japanese empress in the early seventh century, Prince Shotoku, shown here with two of his sons in a Korean painting, used his influence to promote contacts with China, remodel the Japanese government on Chinese lines, and spread Buddhism in Japan.

Monasticism in Christianity and Monasticism in Christianity and BuddhismBuddhism

Both religions were founded by ascetics: Jesus and BuddhaBoth religions were founded by ascetics: Jesus and Buddha What does “ascetic” mean? aceticism? Make sure you What does “ascetic” mean? aceticism? Make sure you

knowknow Monks represent those who attempt to live up to each Monks represent those who attempt to live up to each

religions ideals.religions ideals. Buddhism: most clerics are monks; keepers of tradition Buddhism: most clerics are monks; keepers of tradition

and scripture, sometimes become “holy” or saintlikeand scripture, sometimes become “holy” or saintlike Christianity: separate groups of monks and priests; both Christianity: separate groups of monks and priests; both

are keepers of tradition and scripture, and either may are keepers of tradition and scripture, and either may become “holy” or saintlikebecome “holy” or saintlike

Monks more involved in missionary workMonks more involved in missionary work Essential in maintaining literacy and culture in EuropeEssential in maintaining literacy and culture in Europe Benedict of Nursia (500s CE) father of western Benedict of Nursia (500s CE) father of western

monasticismmonasticism St. Benedict’s rule focused monks on work, study, St. Benedict’s rule focused monks on work, study,

prayerprayer

St. Catherine’s Monastery, Sinai. For almost 1,800 years, Christian monks have lived in the desert, imitating Jesus and John the Baptist, who, the Bible says, both withdrew into the wilderness to think and pray. St. Catherine’s monastery in Sinai in Egypt is in an oasis in a desert gorge, nearly 5,000 feet deep. Its remoteness protected it for centuries and helped to keep its collection of early Christian writings intact.

Samye monastery. The first Buddhist monastery in Tibet at Samye in the valley of Lhasa. It illustrates the importance of royal patronage in bringing Buddhism to Tibet. According to legend, King Trisong Detsen in the 770s invited an Indian sage into the kingdom, who consecrated the site of the monastery after a battle with the demons who infested it. (Part of Tibet’s indigenous Bon religion.)

Islamic Monasticism: Why Not?Islamic Monasticism: Why Not?

Muhammad was not an ascetic: he married, had Muhammad was not an ascetic: he married, had children, was a political as well as spiritual children, was a political as well as spiritual leader.leader.

Islam: all male Muslims are “priests” capable of Islam: all male Muslims are “priests” capable of performing any ceremony. Muslim clerics are performing any ceremony. Muslim clerics are men who devote themselves to study of men who devote themselves to study of scripture and many gain followings. Any Muslim scripture and many gain followings. Any Muslim may convert others to Islam. may convert others to Islam.

No need for monks or separate religious clerical No need for monks or separate religious clerical ordersorders

The Kaaba. Promoters of new religions often reconsecrated pagan sites—it was easier to do that than to persuade worshippers to abandon them. Muhammad made pilgrimage to the black rock housed in a building known as the Kaaba in Mecca compulsory for Muslims. As the picture shows, thousands of pilgrims circle the site each year at the beginning of the hajj. But the rock had already been a place of pagan pilgrimage in Arabia, and a shrine of many gods, for generations, perhaps centuries, before Muhammad’s time.

The Muslim World, ca. 1000 C.E.

Islam, Buddhism, and Christianity became Islam, Buddhism, and Christianity became world religions because each hadworld religions because each had::

A general appeal to all personsA general appeal to all persons No specific connection to any particular group No specific connection to any particular group

or genderor gender Sponsorship by a powerful elite or elitesSponsorship by a powerful elite or elites The ability to spread through tradeThe ability to spread through trade Missionaries who could spread the message of Missionaries who could spread the message of

the religion and convert new believersthe religion and convert new believers

The Spread of Buddhism to 1000 C.E.

Discussion/Essay QuestionDiscussion/Essay Question

Is religious harmony possible?Is religious harmony possible?

Consider Consider Religious division of the world by the major world Religious division of the world by the major world

religions has deep and often antagonistic rootsreligions has deep and often antagonistic roots Yet the world religions share many basic ideas about Yet the world religions share many basic ideas about

peace, justice and the equality of all peoplepeace, justice and the equality of all people And migration and conversion is bringing members of And migration and conversion is bringing members of

all religious communities—Buddhist, Islamic, Christian, all religious communities—Buddhist, Islamic, Christian, Hindu, and others—into closer and more varied contact Hindu, and others—into closer and more varied contact

Can the major faiths of the world come to peaceful co-Can the major faiths of the world come to peaceful co-existence and mutual respect? existence and mutual respect?

Even more radically, are there any prospects for the Even more radically, are there any prospects for the emergence of a universal world religion encompassing all emergence of a universal world religion encompassing all faiths?faiths?