The History And Practices Of Hinduism, Christianity And Islam

Nguyet Mai

HIST 1111

April 28, 2014

Final Exam

Exam #2: Question 1

Although many people generally think that the religions in the world are ends in themselves, they are often interrelated. Thus, the purpose of this essay is to show their relationship by examining the histories and practices of the world’s most well known religions: Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.

Hinduism and Buddhism have a close relationship with each other. They both immerged from India. Hinduism spread throughout the subcontinent of India from its origin in the Indus Valley. Buddhism emerged near Buddha’s home near the Himalayas to the rest of India and Southeast Asia. Siddhartha Gautama, who became Buddha, came from a Hindu family. The presence of Hinduism also greatly influenced Buddhist beliefs and practices. For, example Buddhists and Hindus believe in reincarnation and the idea of enlightenment. Both religions also have many literary works. For Hinduism, texts include the Upanishads and the Bhagavad Gita. For Buddhism, the Tripitaka contains a compilation of the many teachings of Buddha. The strict caste system of Hinduism caused many people from the bottom of the caste to turn towards Buddhism. Buddhism with its emphasis on compassion and karma appealed to the emotions of the underclass. Both religions are still predominantly practiced on the continent of Asia. Hinduism is mainly practiced in India, while Buddhism is predominantly practiced in Southeast Asia.

Judaism and Christianity are also both closely related. Christianity stem from the teachings of Judaism and Judaism’s founder, Abraham of Babylon. Both religions focus on the teachings of scriptures. The holy text of the Jews is the Torah, and the holy text of the Christi...

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...e wealth and trade was controlled by the Middle Eastern Traders. The desire for the goods from the Indian Ocean motivated Europeans to find alternative routes. Due to the fact that Europe was closer to the Atlantic than Middle Eastern trading posts, it was unavoidable that European ships would eventually discover the goods and the people of the New World.

The discovery of the New World during the European’s Atlantic exploration was an event that not only changed the pre-modern world; it helped form the modern world that we know. In order to understand its significance, we must look at the historical events that facilitated the discovery of the New World. Main catalysts of the Atlantic exploration included: the emergence of capitalism in Western Europe; the technology and ideas of the Renaissance; and the trading barriers in the Mediterranean and Indian Ocean.

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