MAJOR EVENTS IN JEWISH HISTORY AND GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION
Louis Komjathy
THRS 112
CONCISE TIMELINE
Abraham
(ca. 2000 BCE)
1st Temple
(Babylonians; 960-586 BCE)
Moses
(ca. 1500 BCE)
Maccabean Revolt
(167-160 BCE)
2nd Temple
(Romans; 516 BCE-70CE)
Rabbinc Judaism
(ca. 2nd c. CE)
Talmud
(200-500 CE)
Jesus Movement Jewish Migration to Europe
(1st c. CE)
(2nd c. CE-19th c.)
Jewish Migration to North America
(17th c.-present)
Shoah
(1939-1945)
State of Israel
(1948-present)
• See also Oxtoby 62, 64; Fieser 276-77.
GEOGRAPHICAL ORIGINS, DISTRIBUTION AND DEMOGRAPHICS
• Origins: Middle East: present-day Egypt, Israel (*Jerusalem), Palestine, etc. (Map)
• Eventually diaspora concentrations throughout world
• European migration: following Roman conquest of Jerusalem in 70 CE (Roman Empire)
• Note: Ashkenaz (Hebrew: “Germany”/medieval Rhineland)
• American migration: Jews began coming to the United States even before its founding in 1776: Dutch colony of New Amsterdam (New York) in 1654; then German
emigration 1838-1880 (200K); then Eastern European 1881-1924 (2 million); then Holocaust survivors 1945-1960 (250K)
• Founding of modern state of Israel (1948; controversial even within Jewish community). Modern demographics: 7.5 million (76% Jewish [5.8 million]; 16%
Muslim; 42% of global Jewish population)
• See Oxtoby 64: Largest Jewish population in US (about 6.5 million; 45% of global Jewish population), followed by Israel, then France (600K). WWII. Often
discussed as “diaspora” (“scattering”). Outside Holy Land.
• Again issue of ethnic (biological) v. religious identity. Also related to degree of adherence: Nominal Jews. Jewish by birth but not in practice.
MAJOR EVENTS IN CHRISTIAN HISTORY AND GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION
Louis Komjathy
THRS 112
CONCISE TIMELINE
Jesus of Nazareth
(ca. 0-ca. 33 CE)
New Testament Latin Vulgate Bible
(ca. 2nd c.)
(4thc.)
Paul of Tarsus
(ca. 5-ca. 67)
Constantine’s Conversion First Ecumenical Councils
(312)
(4th-8th c.)
East-West Schism
(1054)
Crusades
(11th-17th c.)
Christian Migration to America Protestant Reformation
(15th c.-present)
(16th-17th c.)
Martin Luther’s 95 Theses
(1516)
2nd Vatican Council
(1965)
Holocaust
(1939-1945)
• See also Oxtoby 132, 134; Fieser 343.
GEOGRAPHICAL ORIGINS, DISTRIBUTION AND DEMOGRAPHICS
• Origins: Middle East: present-day Israel (*Jerusalem)/Palestine (Historical geography). (Map)
• Missionary and evangelical (conversion as desirable and necessary) religion, so early dissemination throughout Middle East and Africa.
• Following Roman Emperor Constantine’s conversion and Christianity’s elevation to near state religion of Roman Empire (27 BCE-476 CE), distributed throughout
Europe
• Following European colonization of North America (15th c.-present) and establishment of United States of America (1776), United States becomes one of the main
“Christian countries”
• Now global, especially prominent in United States, Central and South America, Europe, Philippines, and South Korea. Also African and Chinese churches.
• See Oxtoby 134: Largest Christian populations in US (over 5 million) and Europe, mostly Catholic and Protestant
MAJOR EVENTS IN ISLAMIC HISTORY AND GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION
Louis Komjathy
THRS 112
CONCISE TIMELINE
Muhammad
(570-632 CE)
Qur’an Transcribed
(ca. 650)
Abu Bakr
First Caliph
(ca. 573-634)
Shi’a Sect
(ca. 680)
Umayyad Caliphate
(661-750)
Muslim Invasion of India
(11th century)
Hadith Compiled
(ca. 800)
Ottoman Empire (Turkey)
(1299-1918)
Delhi Sultanate (India)
(1206-1526)
Turks Capture Constantinople
(Istanbul; 1453)
Pakistan Founded
(1947)
Iranian Islamic Revolution
(1978)
• See also Oxtoby 200, 202; Fieser 423-24.
GEOGRAPHICAL ORIGINS, DISTRIBUTION AND DEMOGRAPHICS
• Origins: Middle East: present-day Saudi Arabia (Medina), also Israel (Jerusalem)/Palestine, etc.
• Quick expansion throughout Middle East, but included relatively high decree of early tolerance for Judaism and Christianity, but not for “paganism” (polytheism)
and “idolatry”
• Ethnicities: Primarily *Arab (Arabian Semitic people; Middle East), but also *Persian (Indo-European people; associated with present-day Iran).
• Before Islam, major Persian religions included Zoroastrianism and Manichaeism
• Also now multi-ethnic, universalistic, and global
• Central religion in Middle East, with the exception of Israel
• Iraq (Mesopotamia): In 633 immediately after death of Muhammad. Modern Iraq: 97% Muslin, including 66% Shi’a, 34% Sunni.
• Iran (Persia): Islamic conquest of Persia (637-651). Modern Iran: 98% Muslim, including 90% Shi’a (main major Shi’a majority country; also 66% in Iraq). Includes
Supreme Islamic leader known as the Grand Ayatollah (“Great Sign of Allah”). The latter is a respectful title for high-ranked Twelver Shi’a Muslim clerics.
• Pakistan: prior to 1947 (1366 AH) no such country, part of India. Islam introduced through Muslim invasions beginning in 11th century. 97% Muslim, 70% Sunni.
• Largest Muslim population in the world is in *Indonesia (85%=200 million). Began in 1200 via India
• See Oxtoby 202: Although Islam originated in Arabia, the largest Muslim populations today are in Indonesia, Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh
MAJOR EVENTS IN HINDU HISTORY AND GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION
Louis Komjathy
THRS 112
CONCISE TIMELINE
Indus Valley
(ca. 2700 BCE)
Vedic Hymns
(ca. 1,800 BCE)
Bhagavad Gita
(ca. 200 BCE)
Indo-European Invasion
Upanishads
(ca. 2000 BCE)
(ca. 800-600 BCE)
Delhi Sultanate
(1206-1526)
Six Philosophical Schools
(ca. 200 CE)
British Raj
(1858-1947)
Mughal Empire
(1526-1858)
Indian Independence
(1947)
Vivekananda at WPR
(1893)
Hindutva
(1980s-present)
• See also Oxtoby 260, 262; Fieser 9.
GEOGRAPHICAL ORIGINS, DISTRIBUTION AND DEMOGRAPHICS
• Origins: India, especially Indus River (northwest India/southeast Pakistan). Modern India divided into “states.”
• Disseminated throughout India, including regionalism as characteristic. Ganga (Ganges) River in northeast especially important (sacred).
• Disseminated throughout South and Southeast Asia, but dominant Indian religion. Often synonymous with “traditional Indian culture.”
• See Oxtoby 262: Largest Hindu population in India (modern India as technically secular nationstate, but Hindu nationalism). Large Hindu population in United
States, Canada and Western Europe. Warmer climates and technology industry.
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MAJOR EVENTS IN JAIN HISTORY AND GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION
Louis Komjathy
THRS 112
CONCISE TIMELINE
Upanishads
(ca. 800-600 BCE)
Mahavira
(599-527 BCE)
Delhi Sultanate
(1206-1526)
Pārśva
Jain Community Divides
(ca. 877-777 BCE)
(ca. 312 BCE)
British Raj
(1858-1947)
Mughal Empire
(1526-1858)
Indian Independence
(1947)
Virchand Gandhi at WPR
(1893)
JAINA
(1981-present)
• See also Oxtoby 354; Fieser 63.
GEOGRAPHICAL ORIGINS, DISTRIBUTION AND DEMOGRAPHICS
• Origins: India, especially in Bihar (eastern state).
• Eventually spreads throughout India, but especially Bihar (eastern state), Maharashtra (central western state), Rajasthan (northwestern state), and Gujarat (western state), on border of
Pakistan. Digambara more prominent in south (warmer), while Svetambara in north.
• No Jain ascetics (“immigrant teachers”) outside of India. Against travel.
• See Oxtoby 354: Largest Jain population in India (about 5 million). Primarily an ethnic Indian religion.
• But also some communities in East Africa, England and North America. Most come from Gujarat. About 25,000 in US. Business, banking, engineering, and medicine (philanthropy).
California, New York, and New Jersey. Nonviolent activities?
• Strong Jain immigration to US from 1980s onward.
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MAJOR EVENTS IN BUDDHIST HISTORY AND GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION
Louis Komjathy
THRS 112
CONCISE TIMELINE
Upanishads
(ca. 800-600 BCE)
Theravada
(ca. 400 BCE)
Mahayana
(ca. 2nd c. BCE)
Mahayana to China
(1st-2nd c. CE)
Siddhartha Gautama Theravada to Sri Lanka Pali Canon Compiled in Sri Lanka
(566-486 BCE)
(ca. 225 BCE)
(ca. 1st c. BCE)
Vajrayana to Tibet Dharmapala at WPR
(7th-8th c.)
(1893)
Indian Independence American Buddhism
(1947)
(1960s-present)
Vajrayana Death of Indian Buddhism Reintroduction to India People’s Republic of China
(ca. 6th c.)
(ca. 12th c. CE)
(late 19th c.)
(1949-present)
• See also Oxtoby 378, 380; Fieser 84.
GEOGRAPHICAL ORIGINS, DISTRIBUTION AND DEMOGRAPHICS
• Origins: India, especially in Kapilavastu (present-day Nepal) (NE India). Also Bodh Gaya (Bihar) and Sarnath (near Varanasi/Benares; Uttar Predesh).
• Buddhism as missionary religion from beginning. Strongest missionization tendencies of Asian religions. Parallels Christianity and Islam in Western religions
• South and Southeast Asia (India as center). Beginning in 3rd c. BCE. “Buddhist countries”: Sri Lanka, Burma, Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand
• Later East Asia: China, Japan, Korea (China as center): Beginning in 1st c. CE
• Later Tibet and Nepal (India as center): Beginning in 7th c. Also “Buddhist countries” (pre-1959 Tibet; now debatable)
• Modern world: Europe and North America: Beginning in late 19th c.
• See Oxtoby 380: Largest Buddhist populations in South, Southeast and East Asia; also minorities in Europe and North America. Parallels Judaism (diaspora as primary; outside country
of origin).
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MAJOR EVENTS IN SIKH HISTORY AND GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION
Louis Komjathy
THRS 112
CONCISE TIMELINE
Sant Movements
(1200s)
Delhi Sultanate
(1206-1526)
Mughal Empire Construction of Golden Temple
(1526-1858)
(Amritsar; 1604)
Guru Nanak
(1469-1539)
Compilation of Adi Granth
(1604)
Khalsa
(1699)
Gobind Singh
(1666-1708)
British Raj Indian Independence
(1858-1947)
(1947)
Sikh Nationalism
(ca. 1799-present)
Yogi Bhajan/3HO
(1929-2004)
• See also Oxtoby 328, 330; Fieser 139.
GEOGRAPHICAL ORIGINS, DISTRIBUTION AND DEMOGRAPHICS
• Origins: India.
• Origin and early activity in Muslim-controlled (1st Delhi Sultanate; then Mughal Dynasty) *Punjab (“five rivers”) region, in northwestern India; now NW India and
SE Pakistan).
• Remains centered primarily in northern India and southern Pakistan. Ethno-religious (geographical) identity. Parallels ancient Judaism
• Also Punjabi immigration to US beginning in early 1900s (British Empire). Farm laborers and timber industry (California and British Columbia). Increased
following British partition and relaxation of US immigration restrictions. Now strong Sikh presence in California.
• See Oxtoby 330: Largest Sikh population in Punjabi, Pakistan, with minorities in California.
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MAJOR EVENTS IN CONFUCIAN HISTORY AND GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION
Louis Komjathy
THRS 112
CONCISE TIMELINE
Kongzi/Confucius
(ca. 551-479 BCE)
Mengzi/Mencius Confucianism as State Orthodoxy
(343-289 BCE)
(ca. 2nd c. BCE)
Warring States
(480-222 BCE)
Unification of China
(ca. 222 BCE)
Neo-Confucianism
(10th-12th c. CE)
Confucianism to Korea & Japan
(5th—6th c. CE)
Pung Kwang Yu at WPR
(1893)
Zhu Xi
(1130-1200)
New Confucianism People’s Republic of China
(ca. 1919)
(1949-present)
Republic of China
(1912-1949; 1949-)
Tu Wei-ming
(b. 1940)
Confucius Institutes
(2000-present)
• See also Oxtoby 442, 444; Fieser 159.
GEOGRAPHICAL ORIGINS, DISTRIBUTION AND DEMOGRAPHICS
• Origins: China (Map: Oxtoby 467). Modern China divided into “provinces.”
• Origin and early activity in Shandong. Qi-Lu culture. Confucius’ birthplace is Qufu in Shandong.
• Becomes state orthodoxy/dominant Chinese culture/society from 2nd c. BCE-early 20th c., with some minor disruptions
• Transmitted to Korea and Japan in 4th and 5th c. CE. Highly influential. Also Chinese Buddhism
• Following end of imperial rule in 1912 and then Communist takeover in 1949, disseminated beyond Chinese cultural sphere. (Also Daoism, Chinese Buddhism and Tibetan Buddhism.)
• See Oxtoby 444: Primarily in China, including larger culture sphere (Taiwan and Hong Kong), Japan, Korea. Also now in North America. Prominent among academics.
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MAJOR EVENTS IN DAOIST HISTORY AND GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION
Louis Komjathy
THRS 112
CONCISE TIMELINE
Laozi
Zhuangzi
(Pseudo-historical) (ca. 370-290 BCE)
Warring States
(480-222 BCE)
Celestial Masters
(ca. 142 CE)
Unification of China
(ca. 222 BCE)
Louguan Established
(5th c.)
Lu Xiujing
(406-477)
Complete Perfection
(12th-13th c.)
Daoism as State Orthodoxy
(618-907)
Republic of China
Chinese Daoist Association
(1912-1949; 1949-)
(1957)
Received Daoist Canon People’s Republic of China Globalized Daoism
(1445)
(1949-)
(ca. 1970s-present)
• See also Oxtoby 442, 444; Fieser 159.
GEOGRAPHICAL ORIGINS, DISTRIBUTION AND DEMOGRAPHICS
• Origins: China (Map: Oxtoby 467). Modern China divided into “provinces.”
• Origin and early activity in state of Chu (Hunan, Hubei, Chongqing, Henan, Shanghai, and parts of Jiangsu). Chu culture. Then Sichuan, Shandong, and Shaanxi.
• Becomes major Chinese organized religion from 2nd c. CE onward
• Transmitted to Korea in 6th and 7th c. (institutional). Korea mainly Buddhist and Confucian, then Christian and capitalist (NK=Communist)
• Transmitted to Japan in 8th c. (beliefs and practices; not institutional). Japan mainly Shinto, Buddhist, and Confucian
• Following end of imperial rule in 1912 and then Communist takeover in 1949, disseminated beyond Chinese cultural sphere. (Also Confucianism, Chinese Buddhism and Tibetan
Buddhism.)
• See Oxtoby 444: Primarily in China, including larger culture sphere (Taiwan and Hong Kong), Japan, Korea. Also now in North America. Family resemblances issue.
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