Compare And Contrast The Growth Of Religions Between 600 And 1450 C. E.

One of the more dramatic features of the period between 600 and 1450 C.E. was the growth and expansion of religions such as Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism, and Islam. Choose at least three of these religions and discuss how these ideologies expanded and shaped regional identities in Europe, China, Asia, and the Arabic world.

Throughout history, people have been believing in and worshiping a higher power. The act of believing in and worshiping a superhuman controlling power, especially a personal God or gods known as a religion. Religion also can be defined as a set of beliefs, dogmas, feelings, and practices that define the relations between human being and sacred or divinity. Over the centuries, people came up with thousands of religions

Buddhism initially entered China during the first and second centuries through Silk Road. But at that time, the stability and prosperity of Han dynasty ensured that Buddhism held little appeal for native Chinese. Moreover, the Indian culture from Buddhism sprang was at odds with Chinese understandings of the world in many ways. The Han dynasty did not allow Buddhism to grow; however, 100 years after the collapsed of Han Dynasty, Buddhism started to spread rapidly in China. Because it provided comfort in the face of the collapsing society. Moreover, Nomadic rulers who governed much of northern China, found Buddhism useful in part because it was foreign. During the Tang dynasties (618-907 C.E), Buddhism have shaped China by bringing wealth and great achievements. Such being largely exempt from taxation and owning large estates that ran businesses such as water mills, pawn shops, oil presses; collected gems, gold and lavish works of art. However, Buddhism during the Tang dynasty have never achieved the independence from state authorities that the Christian Church acquired in Europe. Buddhism did not only shaped China to a better place, it also brought crisis to China. Thousands of monasteries, temples, and shrines were either destroyed or turned to public use because some saw Buddhist establishment a challenge to imperial authority. Moreover, Buddhist were forbidden to use gold,

Muslims holy book (Quran) did not allow men to do whatever they want, nor women. The source mentions that God gave men more strength than women; therefore, they have to protect and maintain the women. It also talks about lives of women and their relationship with men. Unlike Christianity and Buddhism, Quran stated that men and women are equal; however, when it comes to social terms and marriage, the Quran views women as inferior and subordinate. Also, the source stated that men were forbidden to inherit women against their will nor treat them with harshness. From this, we can see that women in the Islamic world had protection and were not always treated miserably. So, Quran did not just provide restrictions for women, it also brought rights and protections. In China, female infanticide was common. while the Quran forbidden it for Muslims. Because Quran was quite clear that men and women were equal, female infanticide as a means of gender selection was not needed. Unlike Christianity in Europe, divorce was accessible to both men and women in Islam. Our source mentions that both men and women were giving forgiveness of sins and mighty reward. With that, we learn that regardless the gender, anyone who remembered God unceasingly was forgiven. The source provided rights, restrictions, and protections for both man and women, it stated that both genders are equal at