Portable Belief Systems

The development of portable and universal religions was an important innovation in human history. These beliefs were not tied to any one place and could—in theory—include any person who wanted to convert. Wherever humans go, their belief systems follow, and as connections increased, belief systems spread rapidly across the world. In many ways, the story of world history is found in how these beliefs clashed and combined.
Teaching Belief Systems

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Featured Materials

Overview of Belief Systems
Close up image of a person’s hand holding a panel with written symbols on it
World History Origins
Article

Overview of Belief Systems External link

Humanity’s ways of understanding the world have changed over time and differ from place to place, but our diverse belief systems still share many characteristics.
Source Collection: Portable Belief Systems
The Great Stupa at Sanchi, India, a mound-like hemispherical structure containing relics (such as śarīra – typically the remains of Buddhist monks or nuns) that is used as a place of meditation.
World History Origins
Article

Source Collection: Portable Belief Systems External link

The source excerpts in this collection explore the diffusion of belief systems across trade routes from c. 6000 BCE to c. 700 CE.
World Religions Before c.1450
Colorful page of text from the Quran with gold highlights, written in Thuluth characters.
World History Origins
Article

World Religions Before c.1450 External link

This article introduces the largest belief systems in Afro-Eurasia before 1450 and explains how and why they changed over time. These religions connected people in communities of faith across vast distances.

Lessons

Lesson 4.2
World History Origins
Empires and Belief Systems
600 BCE to 700 CE
Comparing Portable Belief Systems
From Hinduism and Buddhism to Christianity and Islam, religions transformed societies as they spread to new places. What common ideas did these portable belief systems share—and how did they differ?
View Lesson
Lesson 4.3
World History Origins
Empires and Belief Systems
600 BCE to 700 CE
How Do Religions Grow and Change?
Beliefs and ideas spread along long-distance trade routes, thanks to merchants, armies, and religious missionaries. As beliefs spread, some religions blended with local cultures and took on new traditions.
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Materials

Buddhism
A detailed, paneled line drawing shows many people surrounding a person seated on an elaborate throne. Before the crowd, a person is seated, looking up at the ruler, their hands in prayer position.
World History Origins
Article

Buddhism External link

Buddhism emerged in India as a challenge to Vedic beliefs. It became very popular in China in the seventh century CE.
Christianity
A detailed and busy painted scene. There are many people crowded together, and some are looking up at the sky, where a parting in the clouds shows a group of cherubs holding a cross.
World History Origins
Article

Christianity External link

Christianity emerged among a Jewish population living under Roman rule. Its universalist message appealed to many communities. Today there are 2 billion Christians worldwide.
Spread of Buddhism and Christianity Thematic Map
OER Project
Visual Aid

Spread of Buddhism and Christianity Thematic Map External link

A full-color thematic map of the Spread of Buddhism and Christianity in 100 CE, meant to help you support, extend, and challenge the frame narratives.
Spread of Islam Thematic Map
OER Project
Visual Aid

Spread of Islam Thematic Map External link

A full-color thematic map of the Spread of Islam in 800 CE, meant to help you support, extend, and challenge the frame narratives.
Rumi
World History Origins
Graphic Biographies

Rumi External link

Rumi was a poet who believed that universal love was a path to God. He rejected divisions based on ethnicity and religion.
Syncretism
A painting of the Buddha, flanked by two others, on an ornate throne. Beneath the throne are two other people kneeling. To the right of the throne, another depiction of the Buddha shows them laying horizontally on a platform.
World History Origins
Article

Syncretism External link

Belief systems change over time. They also change when people come into contact with each other and share ideas. This process is called syncretism.

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