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Empires: Belief Systems

Teacher Resources

Driving Question: What changes and continuities took place in Afro-Eurasian belief systems from c. 1450 to 1750 CE?

Across the world, numerous rulers championed a shared belief system to strengthen cohesion within their empires. Empires of the early-modern era witnessed the fracturing of several world religions as well as the shaping of some new ones. In this unit, you will analyze the development of different belief systems, as well as the impacts these systems had across various Afro-Eurasian empires from c. 1450 to 1750 CE.

Learning Objectives:

  1. Explain continuity and change within various belief systems, such as Protestantism, Catholicism, Sikhism, and Sunni and Shi’a Islam, during the period from 1450 to 1750.
  2. Assess how belief systems led to rivalries and conflicts between empires from 1450 to 1750.
  3. Use the historical thinking skill of contextualization to evaluate the transformation of belief systems in this era and how these systems were used by empires to maintain control.
  4. Use the historical reasoning process of continuity and change over time to assess how trade networks and land-based empires evolved from c. 1450 to 1750 CE.
  5. Analyze primary sources to evaluate the transformation of belief systems from c. 1450 to 1750 CE.

Vocab Terms:

  • devshirme
  • divine
  • imam
  • Reformation
  • Shia
  • Sikhism
  • Sunni
STEP 1

Opener: Empires: Belief Systems

Feeling insecure about reading and responding to prompts? We’ve got you covered. The Question Parsing Tool will help you succeed!

STEP 3

Transformations in Eurasian Belief Systems, 1450–1750

The change in belief systems across the world from 1450-1750 completely changed the world. But why? And how did things change?

STEP 4

Themes Notebook

STEP 5

The Reformation

The work of one person can change everything. This was the case when a local monk fighting corruption in the Catholic Church set in motion a religious conflict that continues to influence our world today.

The Reformation External link

How did a protest led by a provincial monk against corruption in the Catholic Church become a centuries-long religious conflict that transformed global communities?

Key Ideas

As this video progresses, key ideas will be introduced to invoke discussion.
STEP 6

CCOT: Networks of Exchange to Land-Based Empires

STEP 7

Source Collection: Transformation of Beliefs

What leads people to change their beliefs over time? Understanding the answer to this question may unlock other mysteries over how society changes over time. Use the Quick-Sourcing Tool to help you analyze these primary source excerpts.

STEP 8

Closer: Empires: Belief Systems

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