World Religions - AP World History: Modern

Zarathustra, also called Zoroaster, is the founder of the ancient religion of Zoroastrianism. Zoroastrianism is often considered to be the earliest known monotheistic religion, predating Judaism, although academic consensus on this has not yet been reached.

Monotheistic religions are differentiated from polytheistic religions in that monotheistic religions believe in only one deity while polytheistic religions believe in many. Examples of monotheistic religions are Christianity, Judaism, and Islam, whereas examples of polytheistic religions are Hinduism, Paganism, and Roman, Egyptian, and Greek mythologies.

Zoroastrianism arose in the eastern region of the ancient Persian Empire in about the seventh century BCE. It involves two opposing forces of good and evil and one god. Zoroastrianism is generally considered by historians to be the first monotheistic religion in human history and a great influencing factor in the development of Judaism and, later, Christianity and Islam. Today, somewhere between five hundred thousand and three million people identify as Zoroastrians.

Zoroastrianism arose in the Persian Empire in roughly the seventh century BCE. Along with Judaism, it is one of the earliest known monotheistic religions. Its influence has waned significantly in the last thousand years, but it is still practiced by over 100,000 people worldwide.

Daoism is an ancient religion founded approximately in the fourth century BCE. Its principle tenets are the belief in yin and yang and the balance of the universe. In Daoism, oneness with nature is very important.

Jainism is an Ancient Indian religion that arose in approximately the seventh century B.C.E. It still is influential today, although there are relatively few practicioners outside of India. The central tenets of Jainism are nonviolence and self-control.

The Qur'an was written in the span of several years - from 609 to 632 (7th century) - by the Prophet Muhammad. It remains today as one of the most influential documents ever produced in human history.

Shortly after the death of the prophet Muhammad, the growing Islamic faith was fractured along ideological lines. The two groups that emerged, and have continued as distinct groups ever since, were the Sunnis and the Shi'ites (sometimes just Shias). Shi'ites believed that the Caliph should be led by the cousin of Muhammad or someone directly related to him. The Sunni believed that his advisor should rule the Caliphate and favor choosing a leader based on more meritocratic means.

Sharia law exists in many countries in the Islamic world. In a country governed by Sharia law, the laws of the nation reflect the laws and tenets of Islam as laid out in the Quran and the hadith.

Sunni and Shi’ite are the two most prominent sects of the Islamic faith. They have been divided since almost the very beginning of their religion and the original disagreement between the two sects has to do with the continuation of the caliphate under the Prophet Muhammad’s son-in-law Ali (for the record the Shia believed Ali should rule, most of the rest did not). In modern times the distinction is particularly important because it has led to sectarian conflict in several Middle Eastern countries - particularly countries like Iran and Iraq where the Shia are in the majority or countries like Syria which have a history of oppression by the majority Sunni.

Spain ruled the Philippines from 1521-1898, making the islands one of Spain's early overseas possessions, and one it held as long as any other. Spain's dominant Catholicism was a large element to its rule of the Philippines. To this day, the Philippines is over 80% Roman Catholic.

The Nicene Creed was issued in 325 CE and is the earliest known attempt to officially standardize the practice of Christian faith. It essentially stated, "We are Christians, and this is what we believe." It can be seen either as a cornerstone of the Christian faith or as the first in a long line of attempts to imbue Christianity with the power of secular authority.

The religion of Christianity first emerged in the Roman Empire two thousand years ago. It was spread originally by Paul the Apostle around the various cities and empires of the Near East and the Mediterranean, but was only a fringe religion for the first two or three centuries of its existence.

Paul the Apostle was a Jewish Roman citizen who, for reasons shrouded by the politicization of Christianity, came to believe in the divinity of Jesus Christ in the first century CE. He is more responsible than any other man (including Jesus) for spreading the faith of Christianity around the world. He wrote letters to Jews and Romans alike, as well as other religious and ethnic groups and travelled widely spreading the Christian gospel. Many historians consider that without the dedicated early influence of Paul, Christianity might have remained a small sect of Judaism, although this is impossible to determine with any certainty.

Constantine I, sometimes called St. Constantine or Constantine the Great, was Roman Emperor in the early fourth century CE. During his reign, Christianity had begun to cement itself as the dominant religion of the Roman Empire. In response, Constantine first legalized Christianity and ended the persecution of Christians, and then converted shortly before his death; his baptism was one of the last things he did.

The Edict of Milan, issued by the Roman Emperor Constantine I in 313 CE, ended the state-sponsored persecution of Christians within the Roman Empire. It made Christianity legal in Rome and all of its provinces.

Christianity is by far the dominant religion of South America, but Catholicism in particular is followed by more than fifty percent of the continent.

The gospels are descriptions of the life of Jesus Christ found in the New Testament of the Christian Bible. The four most famous ones are the gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Peter is famous for different reasons; the Catholic Church generally considers him to be the first Pope, and it is said that he is "the rock upon which Christ's church was built."

The leader of the Eastern Orthodox Church was (and, depending on who you ask, still is) called the Patriarch. The Eastern Orthodox Church was centered in Constantinople and the Bishop of Constantinople as generally held the title of "first among equals" or the Patriarch.

The Papal Bull Unam sanctam was issued by Pope Boniface VIII in 1302. It is notable for proclaiming the unity of the Catholic Church and, more significantly, the absolute authority of the Church in both spiritual and secular matters. It can be understood as part of a general trend in pre-Reformation Europe to try and solidify and extend the temporal power of the Catholic Church.

Judaism was the first of these religions to arise; it is the first of the Abrahamic monotheistic religions. It was followed, in the west, by Christianity, and then Islam.