Expansion of Salvation Religions 400BCE – 1400 CE

Historical Context Section:

1. Describe salvation religions in general.

Salvation religions offer a way for its follower, or believers, to “save themselves” in the next life.
It can also be referred to as a "redemption" from sin and its effects. These type of religions were
extremely popular among low class people who lived under harsh conditions because the
salvation religions gave a path to a better life.

2. Describe the conditions that caused the widespread conversion to the salvation religions of
Buddhism, Christianity and Islam.

People around the world were going through tough times such as poverty, death, wars, diseases,
and starvation. In these tough situations people sought ways to end their suffering or get a better
life; salvation religions were the solution because they secured a better future.

The Spread of Buddhism (pages 48-53)

3. According to Bentley, what accounted for the initial resistance to Buddhism in China and the
resounding success of Indian ideas and faiths in Southeast Asia?

Many people in China resisted Buddhism because they were very conservative and they viewed
the Buddha and his teachings as being outlandish and very foreign. The Chinese already had
their own long established cultural traditions and they didn’t want to abbadon it for a new, non-
Chinese religion.

4. Describe the factors that aided the spread of Buddhism.

The most influential factor that helped spread Buddhism across Asia all the way to China and to
all parts of the world was all thanks to trade routes and merchants traveling on them. With the
trade routes, Buddhism quickly spread and gained many followers.

5. Describe the role that the oasis towns along the Silk Roads played in the spread of Buddhism.
How do the “Diaspora communities” Bentley refers to relate to these oasis towns and their roles
in the spread of religion, if at all.

The silk roads were essential to the spread of Buddhism because it allowed merchants to trade
goods, services, and religions quickly and effectively. As time went on, they established
communities, known as oasis towns, which grew in size as they became wealthier and linked
along the trade routes. Since the oasis dwellers and many merchants converted to buddhism, any
who depended on the trade or wanted the wealth had to convert to Buddhism.

The Spread of Christianity (pages 60-64)

6. Describe the specific developments and causes that explain Christianity’s success in the
Roman Empire and beyond. (According to Bentley, of course).

During the second and third centuries, zealous missionaries who performed miracles such as
healing illnesses, casting out demons, and bestowing blessings on the faithful helped spread
Christianity. One missionary called Gregory the Wonderworker was very effective at converting
people to Christianity by performing many miracles. In Rome, Christianity spread through the
process of syncretism. Then Constantine converted to Christianity which amplified the effects of
syncretism and it helped in the cultural transformation of Rome. He made Christianity the legal
religion of the Roman empire and he built several churches throughout Rome. He also gave
Christians financial support. All these gave Christianity more public respect which put social
pressure on people to convert. All these things helped with the success of Christianity.

The Spread of Islam (pages 90-96)

7. Describe the conditions under which Islam spread beyond its homeland of Arabia.

There were many conditions which show how Islam spread beyond its homeland. One was the
Byzantine and Sassanian empires both decayed and couldn’t resist Arab warriors. Also Muslim
warriors fought with an intense zeal and their faith drove them to unite to fight for their ethnic
cause. Camel transport also helped the religion to diffuse from Arabia. There were also many
large trading routes that spread throughout parts of Africa and Asia. These helped the religion to
diffuse from its homeland.

8. List the economic, political and social benefits of conversion.

Economic- The jizya, a tax that only non-Muslims had to pay.

Political- Muslims had greater access to positions of power and authority.

Social- Non-Muslims had to live in designated neighborhoods which prevented their integration
into the Islamic society.

9. Describe the reaction of the Parsis and Manicheans.

The parsi and the Manicheans did not accept Islam as a cultural alternative. The Parsis migrated
to India so that they could practice their religion and avoid the pressures that non-Muslims faced
in Abbasid Persia. The Manicheans traveled through the silk roads and moved to China to
practice their religion in peace.

Reflection

10. Under the Thinking Historically section there are 3 patterns of religious conversions
described by Bentley. List them.

The three patterns of cultural conversions discussed by Bentley are: assimilation, conversion by
pressure, and voluntary association.

11. Which of these patterns best describe the spread of Islam, Christianity and Buddhism? Can
you think of other patterns of religious conversion?

Voluntary association was the most common and popular choice by many people because Islam,
Christianity, and Buddhism seemed to be quite attractive religions. Many converted because
these religions offered explanations for the world and gave people guidelines, morals, ethics, and
an overall purpose in life. People were also given salvation, which had mass appeal. Another
example of a pattern of religious conversion was the forced conversion of Native Americans by
missions in North America.

12. What was the most important concept you learned from Jerry Bentley from this particular
article?

The most important concept I learned from Jerry Bentley was how and why salvation religions
such as Christianity were so successful in spreading and gaining many followers. He talked
about how the salvation religions offered purpose, ethics, and salvation.

13. What personal connections did you make to the information as you read?

A personal connection that I made was that I don’t notice much conversions of religions in
modern society unlike how converting to new religions was very common back then.
14. Create a metaphor to compare the spread of salvation religions to something abstract. Justify
it with at least 3 specific direct comparisons. Draw it out on a separate piece of paper. Make it
clear, neat and colorful.

EXAMPLE:

A Salvation religion is a starfish. It grows in many directions. Cut off an arm and it grows back.
They move with the ocean currents like missionaries move along the trade routes.