They've Got the Whole World in Their Hands

An Integrated, Interdisciplinary, Thematic, Standards-based Unit on the five major religions of the world and their impact on history Fundamental to the understanding of world history is the study of the major religions of the world. Specifically, Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism & Buddhism will be covered in how & where they arose and their subsequent diffusion, their basic tenants, how they changed the societies that practiced them and conversely, how these societies changed the religions. Other aspects that are critical to the comprehension of the role of these religions in world history are how they were, or weren't, incorporated into the political systems, how they influenced societal rolls, i.e. gender, class, etc., and finally, their the manner in which the believers expressed their faith in art and architecture. Only by understanding the nature of these religions can the student grasp the world view of a society, from the emperor down to the lowly peasant, thereby exposing motivations and responses to eras, events and people that changed history.