Religious+Conversions+and+Diffusion+of+Religions


 * Christianity**

__**The Origin of Christianity**__ Christianity was created by the reformation of the laws and beliefs of Judaism. The founder of Christianity was Jesus Christ who was a prophet who was said to be the son of God. Christianity was one of the first world wide religions to take place after the decline of the classical era. People who took great interest in Christianity were the Roman empire and some other bordering regions of the area. //**Stearns, Peter N, Michael Adas, and Stuart B. Schwartz.**// //**Word Civilizations: The Global Experience. 3rd Ed.**// //**New York: HarperCollins, 2000. Print.**// __**Christianity and the Roman Empire**__ Christianity was said to have started in the Roman Empire where it took its roots and began to have a great influence on the regions political and cultural structure. The Roman Empire seemed unconcerned to the growing popularity of Christianity, that was until the followers of Christianity discontinued the worship of Caesar. The Roman Empire saw this as treason and began to persecute the followers of Christianity. After many years of this Christianity became one of the most popular religions in the Roman empire. They began the use of the church in the Roman Empire and attracted many followers. Overall, Christianity became a very powerful religion in the post classical Roman Empire. //**Guisepi, Robert A. "A History of Christianity." Www.history_world.org. World History International. Web. 4 Feb. 2012. . **//

__**Christianity**__ **__Missionary__** Missionary's where sent to different regions of the world to spread the gospel of Christianity. This was in effort to convert non-believers. Some of the time thought these missionary's were not welcome and were attacked and/ or mistreated. Being a missionary at this time was very dangerous due to this, but once they came through, they were greatly rewarded. The missionary's used tactical ways such providing heath needs and education. //**"missionary." World History: The Modern Era. ABC-CLIO, 2012. Web. 9 Feb. 2012. **//

__**Christianity in Overview**__ In all, Christianity was very successful in gaining new followers and believers. What started in Rome, Christianity has reached as far as China during the post-classical time period. This was due to many missionary campaigns and expansion of different empires. **Islam**

__**The Origin of Islam**__ Islam was founded by the Prophet Muhammad. Afterwards Islam took off at an amazingly fast rate. Muslim forces seized Byzantine, Syria, Palestine, most of Mesopotamia, Egypt, Persia, NW India, and NW Africa through conquest. By the 9th century missionary activity had attracted numerous converts particularly in Persia and India.

__**Islam and India**__ In India, Muslims carrying the Islamic religion originally fought their way into the empire. Eventually these harsh tactics were replaced with accommodation and peaceful exchanges. The northwestern part of India had sizeable Muslim communities centered in Delhi while the largest settlement was in Bengal, located to the east of Delhi. Few converts were won forcibly. Most came from the lower rungs of the caste system due to the appeal of equality of all believers. Other converts came from the declining Buddhist faith in India at the time. Buddhist monasteries stood no chance against the Muslim raiders.

__**Islam in SE Asia**__ Starting around the 13th century, Arab traders and Muslim missionaries were carried aboard ships to islands in Southeast Asia. During the time Islam spread to many ports such as Demak and Java, and also to the coast of Malaya and east to Sumatra. Converts were relatively peaceful here and some converts were drawn to syncretism, the Islamic faith combined with traditional animistic teachings, Hinduism, or Buddhism, which were in the area prior to the arrival of the Islamic missionaries. __**Islam in Africa**__ In the 11th century the Islamic faith won over many converts in Africa due to again their principle of equality of all believers. Some kings in Africa converted to Islam because the unity of the political and religious aspects the Islamic faith brought with it. Kings also converted to Islam to legitimize their rule. The Swahili coast experienced a lot of Islamic interactions as well. Town residents were influenced and syncretised, or blended the Islamic faith with the indigenous religions just like in SE Asia. Merchants in the Swahili coasts’ port towns converted because it was good for business.

=**__Religions in China__**= Three majors played a key role in Chinese history; Buddhism, Confucianism, and Daoism. =__**Confucianism**__= Confucianism began in 500 B.C.E. by a man named Confucius. Confucianism was more of a philosophy than a religion, but it was still widely cherished and followed. Confucius started Confucianism to preserve traditions and teach people how a good government should be run. Confucianism was very secular; followers were only concerned with the present time rather than most religions that strove for heaven in the after-life. Confucians cherished tradition and held personal virtue above most things. They also believed that leaders should behave modestly, have courtesy, and not abuse the power they have been given. A good leader has a veneration of custom and ritual, a love of wisdom, and strives to learn new things. Confucius believed that well behaved citizens led by a good government would keep China alive and pure forever. Confucianism had one major book that they lived by, it was called the Analects. Confucianism was always at war with Buddhism to become the major religion of China. = = =**__Buddhism__**= Buddhism was founded by a man named Siddartha Guatama when he left his home to find the true meaning of life. He had left life as a spoiled prince to help others and discover why he had been placed on this earth. After months of meditating he became enlightened and began to spread his new religion; Buddhism. The people of India called him the "Buddha," meaning "Awakened" since he had been elightened. Buddhism is based on the idea of being pure and living for union with the divine essence after death, this is called "Nirvana." The Four Noble Truths and The Eight Fold Path consist of the basics of Buddhism. The Four Noble Truths state that, 1) The end of suffering, 2) the path to end suffering, 3) the cause of suffering, and 4) the truth of suffering. These truths teach people not to strive for personal pleasure, but to live to help others and be selfless. Ultimately, Buddhists strive to reach union with the divine essence and become pure. To do this, they must live selflessly and help others.

=__**Daoism**__ = Daoism began at around the same time as Confucianism; 500 B.C.E. Lao-zi was the founder of Daoism, he was also a big Daoism philosopher. He spread his teachings far across China. Daoism was one of the first true religions in China, it stressed contimplating life and understanding the world we live in and the nature around us. Daosim first appealed to the upper class who wanted to practice a more elaborate spirituality. Daoism embraced belief in nature and its harmonies and mysteries. This was a very philisophical religion that made people think deeply about life. Although Daosim was never as widely practiced as Buddhism and Confucianism, it was still popular in China.

** Chinese Culture ** Chiu, Lisa. "Daoism in China." //www.about.com//. N.p., n.d. Web. 7 Feb 2012. . ** AP WORLD TEXTBOOK **  Stearns, Peter N, Michael Adas, and Stuart B. Schwartz. //Word Civilizations: The Global Experience. 3rd Ed.// New York: HarperCollins, 2000. Print. ** PBS.org ** "Basics of Buddhism." (Public Broadcasting Service) PBS, 1995. Web. 28 Jan. 2012. ** ABC-CLIO **  "Islam." //World History: Ancient and Medieval Eras//. ABC-CLIO, 2012. Web. 20 Jan. 2012.