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Period: 500 to Oct 5, 1000
Thesis
Beginning in 500 C.E. and ending in 1000 C.E., throughout Europe and Asia, Christianity persisted to spread among what was formerly the Roman Empire, however in the surrounding empires, religions and customs such as Hinduism, Islam, and Buddhims spread and syncretised with previously existing cultures. -
Oct 5, 610
Muhammad's Spiritual Transformation
During this time period, the Prophet Muhammad experienced a deep spiritual awakening about one true diety called Allah ("God"). Following this experience, he presented his teachings in a compilation called the Qua'ran, the holy book of Islam.
Significance- When the Prophet Muhammad experienced his spiritual akakening, his revelations brought about one of the most popular religions even in society today. -
Oct 5, 632
Expansion of Islam
Not only was Islam a new and growing religion, it was also an empire that expanded its field of influence not only to grow in size and numbers, but to spread Islam as a religion as well.
Significance- Because the Islamic world spread its border outside of Arabia to empires such a Presia and Egypt, the religion of Islam spread as well and gained many new coverts through trade and conquer. -
Oct 5, 711
Islam in India
During this time period, Northern India experienced the arrival of the Islamic states in their culture, through trade, Turkish migrants, and military conquest.
Significance- Through the entering of Islam into India, the empire was able to become far more centralized than it had been previously, as wellla s diversify its culture as Islam diffused its traditions with the Indian ones. -
Oct 5, 726
Iconoclasm
Leo III, who reigned the Byzantine Empire from 717-741 C.E., strongly disliked the use of icons in the church, so in 726, he set forth the policy of iconoclasm (means the 'breaking of icons').
Significance- This event was one of the primary divisions between the Roman Catholic Church (Took place in the area that was once the Western Roman Empire) and the Eastern Orthodox Church (Byzantine Empire). -
Oct 5, 1054
Tensions Between Eastern and Western Christianity
Because of issues such as iconoclasm and minor theological teachings, the pope of the Roamn Cahtolic Chruch and the Patriarch of the Eastern Orthodox Church, mutually excommunicated each other.
Significance- Because of this split, historians refer to the church after this date as the Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church, this split still persists to present day. -
The Establishment of Buddhism in China
Due to the decline of Confucianism in China, the Chinese People were open to the establishment of Buddhism. This openness only increased du to the syncetism between Daoist and Buddhist beliefs.
Significance- Because of the decline of Confucianism, Buddhism easily became a popular religion among the Chinese peoples, this allowed the people to diversify and expand their knowledge of othe cultures. -
Pope Gregory I
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The Conversion Of England
Many Germanic peoples inhabited England during the time that Pope Gregory lived, one of his main missions was to convert these nomadic tribes to Christianity. By 800, England was strongly under the influence of the Roman Catholic Church.
Significance- Through the gaining of Englad by the Roman Church, France, Germany, amd many other lands were also more open to conversion to the faith. -
Hindu Kingdoms of Southern India
Although some of India converted to Islam, the southern areas remained predominantly Hindu. During this time,the caste system imbedded itself into society and developed to be far more complex than before.
Significance- Becuase the southern kingdoms were able to further preserve Hinduism, it allowed India to be a diverse country that had the influences that it had developed itself and the ones gained from other empires. -
Prince Vladimir Converts to Christianity
Although Prince Vladimir of Kiev was not a picture of virtue in the Christianity, when he converted to Orthodox Christianity, he ordered his subjects to convert as well.
Significance: Because Prince Vladimir converted to Christianity, it allowed Byzantine culture and religious influences to flood into Russia. The church that sprouted from these Byzantine influences became the Russsian Orthodox Church, which had a strong Caesaropapist control
