Important Dates: Religion

  • Indus River Valley Civilization Established
    2500 BCE

    Indus River Valley Civilization Established

    Hinduism has no exact date of creation, but it is known that the religion originated in the Indus river valley civilization
  • Daoism Develops
    1600 BCE

    Daoism Develops

    Daoism was first seen around this time period in history. It began in China during the Shang dynasty.
  • The Vedas Were Written
    1500 BCE

    The Vedas Were Written

    The Vedas are the sacred texts of Hinduism and were written around this time. These texts include poems, hymns, prayers, and a guide to living a religious life.
  • The Upanishads are Written
    800 BCE

    The Upanishads are Written

    The Upanishads are additional sacred texts within Hinduism. The texts introduced karma and reincarnation to the religion.
  • Siddhartha Gautama Born
    623 BCE

    Siddhartha Gautama Born

    Siddhartha Gautama, the founder of Buddhism was born. He went on to reach enlightenment and preach to others about his spiritual state.
  • Lao Tzu is born
    571 BCE

    Lao Tzu is born

    Lao Tzu is the Chinese philosopher who discovered and introduced the religion of Daoism.
  • Confucius is Born
    551 BCE

    Confucius is Born

    Confucius was the philosopher who founded Confucianism. He believed in prioritizing morality and personal ethics.
  • 522 BCE

    Confucius Begins His Own Private School

    Confucius created his own school to teach his beliefs. This was a big step for spreading the ideas of Confucianism
  • The Tao Te Ching is written
    500 BCE

    The Tao Te Ching is written

    The Tao Te Ching is the holy text of the religion of Taoism. The book preached about how all organisms should live in balance with the Tao, better known as the Universe.
  • Period: 481 BCE to 221 BCE

    Wars That Caused Legalism

    Violent wars occurred in China during this Time period, which sparked the idea of Legalism. Legalism was created in response to the war and began being reinforced to keep people in order.
  • Mahayan is founded
    350 BCE

    Mahayan is founded

    Mahayana is one of the three major sects of Buddhism and is the largest sect. The sect does not require followers to become monks or nuns. It teaches how to reach spiritual enlightenment.
  • Buddhism Becomes Official State Religion of India
    300 BCE

    Buddhism Becomes Official State Religion of India

    Buddhism becomes the official religion of India, under the rule of Ashoka the Great, the Mauryan Indian emperor
  • Han Feizi is born
    280 BCE

    Han Feizi is born

    Han Feizi, the philosopher who discovered and created legalism, was born. He found that laws needed to be more important than the gospel, in order to keep people from acting on violent impulses.
  • Qin Dynasty Begins
    221 BCE

    Qin Dynasty Begins

    Qin Shi Huang, the first emperor of this dynasty began to enforce the beliefs of legalism
  • Wu the Great begins to Rule
    141 BCE

    Wu the Great begins to Rule

    Wu the Great's ruling is significant to Confusiam because he is the ruler of an ancient china that establishedd Confucianism as State Philospohy
  • The founding of the Ise Grand Shrine
    4 BCE

    The founding of the Ise Grand Shrine

    This shrine is one of the first to be created/discovered in Shintoism. The shrine honors the goddess of the sun, Amaterasu
  • the Kojiki is Written
    712

    the Kojiki is Written

    This is one of the two most influential holy texts in Shintoism. This text includes information on the kami.
  • The Nihon-gi is written
    720

    The Nihon-gi is written

    The Nihon-gi is another of the most influential holy texts in Shintoism. The text includes myths about Shinto gods.