Religious Development

Indus River Valley Civilization

2500 BCE

The civilization in the Indus River Valley develops and the beginnings of the religion of Hinduism can be found.

Abraham is born

1813 BCE

Abraham is known as the founder of Judiaism and created the covenant between the Jewish people and god.

Abraham forms covenant with God

1713 BCE

This is the first covenant with God formed by Abraham and created the relationship between the Jews and God.

Aryans invade Indus river Valley

1600 BCE

The Aryans conquer the area and with them they bring the Verdic religion.

Moses leads Jewish exodus out of Egypt

1250 BCE

Moses leads the Jewish people out of Egypt, where they have been enslaved for hundreds of years.

First Temple built in Jerusalem

950 BCE

King Solomon builds the first temple in Jerusalem. It was a very sacred site where the Ark of the Covenant was located.

Israel splits into two kingdoms

920 BCE

After the death of King Solomon, the kingdom split into two with the kingdom of Israel in the north and the kingdom of Judah in the south.

Major Upanishads written

800 BCE

The Upanishads are the major texts that the religion of Hinduism is founded on.

Verdic Age begins

800 BCE

Hinduism is founded on the same principles as the Verdic religion.

Assyrians conquer Israel

722 BCE

The Assyrians take over the kingdom of Israel, forcing the Jews to leave and starting the Jewish diaspora.

Start of Caste System

600 BCE

The caste system is an official social hierarchy in India that is still in place today. It is an important part of Hinduism.

Confucius is born

551 BCE

The founder of the philosophy is born.

Daoism formed

550 BCE

This is the start of the religion

Confucius appointed Minister of Justice

500 BCE

Confucius becomes the Minister of Justice for the State of Lu.

Confucius travels teaching his beliefs

497 BCE

Confucius resigns from his government position and begins traveling through China with his disciples teaching his philosophy.

Siddhartha Gautama is born

490 BCE

Siddhartha is the founder of Buddhism and is later known as the Buddha.

Confucius dies

479 BCE

The teacher of Confucianism dies.

Gautama becomes the Buddha

455 BCE

While sitting under a tree, Siddhartha became enlightened and understood that to end his suffering he must let go of human desires.

Gautama's death

410 BCE

He dies after traveling and teaching for 45 years.

Zhuangzi writes chapters of the Taote Ching

350 BCE

Zhuangzi furthers the ideas in the Taote Ching by writing more and clashes with the ideas of Confucianism.

Mencius spreads Confucianism

330 BCE

Mencius helps to spread the teachings of Confucius even more.

Epic Poem of Ramayana Written

300 BCE

This poem is one of two major pieces of literature that is read in the Hindu religion.

Buddhism becomes India's state religion

261 BCE

Emperor Ashoka makes Buddhism the official religion of India after he converts to it. He played an important role in the spread of the religion.

Execution of many Confucian scholars and burning of texts

206 BCE

During the Qin Dynasty, the Emperor orders the death of many Confucian scholars and that the texts of Confucius be burned.

Hindu Laws Codified

200 BCE

The strict laws and guidelines of Hinduism are created.

Buddhist scriptures first written down

25 BCE

The sermons and teachings of the Buddha is written down for the first time allowing people to have better access to them.

Birth of Jesus Christ

4 BCE

Jesus is believed to be the son of God and the Messiah sent to save the Israeli people.

Crucifixion of Jesus

30

Jesus is killed on a cross and rose from the dead to allow everyone's sins to be washed away.

First Gospel Written

60

The first gospel is published and believed to be written by Mark.. It is the beginnings of the Bible.

Confucian texts become basis of burecrat training

124

The Emperor Han Wudi makes a part of the training to become a bureaucrat is that they must known the Confucius texts.

Zhang Daoling becomes first celestrial master

141

He helps further the religion and founds the Sect of the Hay of the Five Bushels of Rice.

Zhang Lu makes religious communities

155

Zhang Lu turns the Five Bushels of Rice into a religious community, which further organizes the religion.

The Mishna is created

200

The Mishna is one of the first collections of texts and teachings by rabbis compiled.

Han Dynasty collapses

220

The fall of the Han Dynasty marks the increase influence of Daoism in China.

Wei Huacun becomes first female leader of the Shangquing Sect

251

This is an important event in the progress of women in the religion.

Armenia mkes Christianity offical religion

301

Armenia is the first country to make Christianity its official state religion.

Constantine Converts

312

Constantine, the emperor, is the most powerful man in Roman. His converting to Christianity furthered the spread and influence of the religion even more.

Christianity becomes legal religion in Roman Empire

313

Christians are no longer persecuted in the Roman Empire and it is accepted by the government allowing the religion to grow.

Master who has Embraced Simplicity written

320

Ge Hang writes the the Master who Embraced Simplicity about the leader Daoism.

Buddhist texts translated to Chinese

347

The Buddhist texts have started to be translated to Chinese causing Buddhism's influence in China to grow.

Mahasanghika school emerges

386

After the meeting of the council, a dispute forms causing a split in Buddhism creating the Mahasanghika school of thought.

Augustine converts to Christianity

387

Augustine converts and writes many important texts and papers in the religion.