A history of cultural exchange

In Central Asia there is an ancient Christian cemetery. Its gravestones are carved with a cross. They also have a lotus blossom on them. “This is the grave of Jeremiah, the believer,” one reads. It gives the Western calendar year that he died. It also says, “the year of the sheep.” That is the year according to the Chinese Zodiac.

Wait. Why is that? Why would Christian gravestones in Central Asia have both a cross and a Buddhist lotus flower? Why do they give both the Western calendar year and the Chinese Zodiac year? These graves are examples of syncretism.

Syncretism is a process. It happens when different belief systems in a place blend in some way. They form something new. Transformed versions of religions and cultures take shape and spread. How does this process come about? History shares many examples.

We can start along the Silk Road. These winding trade routes connected people from Europe to Asia. Silk and spices were not the only things being traded. Traveling merchants brought new ways of thinking, too. They also carried new ideas back with them.

Trade networks and the expansion of classical empires

As empires grew their trade routes spread. Different cultures came into contact more often. The exchange of ideas happened more frequently.

Christianity serves as a good example. During the Roman Empire, this religion spread and changed. Missionaries traveled on Roman roads. They used the vast imperial trade network.

Christianity adapted as it spread. Some merchants carried Christianity deep into Asia. The religion adapted to other belief systems. Buddhism was one of them. As Christianity took root in China, it used Buddhist ideas to spread its messages. One example is a Christian monument in China. The writing was in Syriac and Chinese. It used Buddhist ideas as well to tell about Jesus.

Likewise, Buddhism was transformed as it spread. The philosophy reached new regions with Buddhist merchants. It spread along the Silk Road.

As Buddhism spread to China, the form called Mahayana was more popular. The other form was stricter and more difficult to follow. It placed more value on meditation. In contrast, Mahayana was more flexible. Followers could attain enlightenment in many ways.

Merging of political and religious authority

Political power also has played a role in syncretism. Politics and religion were often mixed in the ancient world. For example, Roman Emperor Constantine I made Christianity legal in the early fourth century CE. Some 70 years later, it was named the state religion. Now Christians could hold positions of power in the government. The religion became popular, and more people became Christians.

Buddhism also spread and transformed as a result of political power. In the third century BCE in India, the emperor Ashoka converted to Buddhism. He might have seen it as a way to unify his people. He also sent out missionaries. They carried the religion to neighboring kingdoms. Eventually, Buddhism spread across much of Asia.

Why does this matter? Well, these missionaries were sent by the emperor. This gave them access to the rulers they visited. When a ruler likes what you have to say, it sends a powerful message. It’s like having a celebrity re-share your post on social media. You get a lot more followers.

So, let’s go back to that cemetery in Central Asia. Now it makes sense, right? Christian gravestones could have both a cross and a lotus. They could use both a Western calendar year and a Chinese Zodiac year. Why? Because the Silk Road carried more than trade goods. These networks carried ideas and beliefs.