1. The Migration of the World’s Religions
Islam Buddhism
Christianity
Taoism
Judaism
Hinduism
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2. Islam
• Origins in the teachings of
Muhammad, born in 570 AD.
– Muhammad spent most of his life in
Mecca and Medina, in present day Saudi
Arabia.
• Initially spread through expansion
diffusion during Muhammad’s life.
– Expansion diffusion: the spread of ideas
through contact between cultures
• Islam spread through conquest over
the next 700 years, engulfing most of
Central Asia and North Africa.
– This became the Ottoman Empire
• Today, Islam is prominent in Central
Asia, the Middle East, and North
Africa.
• It is still one of the 3 most prominent
religions in the world.

3. Christianity
• Origins in the teachings of Jesus, born
in Jerusalem around 0 A.D.
• Christianity reached out to all people,
not just a chosen race.
– First spread through the underclasses
– Spread quickly throughout the Roman
Empire during the first two centuries A.D.
thanks to the ease of travel.
• Rome became the center of
Christianity and became the official
religion of the Empire in 313 A.D.
under the Emperor Constantine
– Hierarchical diffusion
• After the fall of the Empire,
Christianity split, but continued to
spread through widespread
missionaries.
• Today, there are an estimated 2.1
billion Christians spread all
throughout the world.

4. Judaism
• Beliefs of Judaism laid the foundation
for Christianity and Islam.
• Origins in the Near East, near present
day Israel, however its exact origins
are unclear.
• An “ethnic” religion, believing they
are part of a race “chosen” by God.
• Early conquests in the Middle East
helped the religion expand.
• Jews were dispersed after being
conquered by several different
groups…a religion without a home.
• During the 13th-16th centuries,
developed strongholds in Poland,
Lithuania and Russia.
• During the late 19th and early 20th
centuries, a movement began to
recreate a Jewish country.
• Present day Israel founded in 1948.

5. Hinduism
• The world’s oldest major religion.
• Traces back at least 4000 years.
• Roots in the Indus River Valley, in
present day Pakistan.
• Spread south and southeast through
contagious diffusion.
– Overtook many local religions
• Developed strongholds throughout
Southeast Asia.
• Has its strongest present day
followings in India, Indonesia,
Thailand, and Vietnam.
• Pockets of the religion have recently
spread to Western Europe and North
America.

6. Buddhism
• Traces its roots to reformers revolting
against Hinduism in the 6th century
B.C. in India
• Founded by Siddhartha Gautama, the
Buddha (Enlightened One).
• Focuses on an explanation for evil
and human suffering, and the path to
“enlightenment.”
• Spread by “contagious diffusion”
throughout India. Made the state
religion in the 3rd century B.C.
• Continued to expand abroad through
Southeast Asia, but was reabsorbed
by Hinduism in India.
• Spread to China, but suffered with
the spread of Communism.
• Today, it is hard to know how many
Buddhists remain. Anywhere from
225 million to 500 million worldwide.

7. Taoism (East Asian Religions)
• Reform movements and religious
merging among Buddhists and
Hindus led to a series of ethnic
religions appearing in China.
• Taoism is among the most prominent
of these.
• Initially popular among the higher
classes in Chinese society, it lost
power in 14th-17th centuries A.D.
• Changed its doctrine to appeal to the
lower classes, forming a much more
simplified religion.
• Today it remains widespread in China
and East Asia, but has spread very
little elsewhere.

8. 3) Started in the Middle East and spread through
the Roman Empire, eventually becoming it’s
state religion. Today is spread throughout the
world with 2.1 billion members:
Islam Buddhism
Christianity
Taoism
Judaism
Hinduism

9. 4) Started in India and became it’s state religion
for a time. Lost power there to another religion,
but today is prominent throughout Southeast
Asia:
Islam Buddhism
Christianity
Taoism
Judaism
Hinduism

10. 5) Started in what is today known as Saudi
Arabia. Expanded greatly through conquests
and war. Today is prominent in Central Asia, the
Middle East, and North Africa:
Islam Buddhism
Christianity
Taoism
Judaism
Hinduism

11. CORRECT!!
Now, let’s take another look at how the
religions spread:

12. 6) Ethnic religion with its origins near present
day Israel. Dispersed after losing its homeland
to conquering foreigners, but today once again
has a home state:
Islam Buddhism
Christianity
Taoism
Judaism
Hinduism

13. Close, but not quite:
Islam Buddhism
Christianity
Taoism
Judaism
Hinduism
Try again…

14. 1) The world’s oldest major religion, with its
roots in present day Pakistan:
Islam Buddhism
Christianity
Taoism
Judaism
Hinduism

15. Not exactly…
Islam Buddhism
Christianity
Taoism
Judaism
Hinduism
Try again…

16. CORRECT!!
Islam Buddhism
Christianity
Taoism
Judaism
Hinduism
Go to Question #2

17. 2) Started as a mix of Buddhism and
Hinduism, and has not spread much
outside of East Asia:
Islam Buddhism
Christianity
Taoism
Judaism
Hinduism

18. Ooh, just missed it:
Islam Buddhism
Christianity
Taoism
Judaism
Hinduism
Try again…

19. CORRECT!!
Islam Buddhism
Christianity
Taoism
Judaism
Hinduism
Go to Question #3

20. CORRECT!!
Islam Buddhism
Christianity
Taoism
Judaism
Hinduism
Go to Question #4

21. CORRECT!!
Islam Buddhism
Christianity
Taoism
Judaism
Hinduism
Go to Question #5

22. CORRECT!!
Islam Buddhism
Christianity
Taoism
Judaism
Hinduism
Go to Question #6

23. Are you sure?
Islam Buddhism
Christianity
Taoism
Judaism
Hinduism
Try again…

24. I think not:
Islam Buddhism
Christianity
Taoism
Judaism
Hinduism
Try again…

25. For each question, click on the
religion it describes:
Islam Buddhism
Christianity
Taoism
Judaism
Hinduism
Go to Question #1

26. Take another shot at it:
Islam Buddhism
Christianity
Taoism
Judaism
Hinduism
Try again…