Level 72
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Population and Cities of the World

World Religions and Sacred Geography

An exploration of how the world's major faiths originated, spread, and shaped sacred landscapes, pilgrimage routes, and cultural identity.

60-Second Review

Express review

A condensed, point-by-point summary of the module, for reviewing right before a test or exam.

  1. Origins and Diffusion of Christianity. Christianity grew from a small Jewish sect in Roman Judea into the world's largest global faith.
  2. Origins and Diffusion of Islam. Islam spread from seventh-century Arabia to become the world's second-largest religion.
  3. Origins and Diffusion of Hinduism and Buddhism. Hinduism and Buddhism arose in ancient India and spread across Asia by very different means.
  4. Judaism, Sikhism, and Smaller World Faiths. Judaism, Sikhism, and smaller faiths trace distinct origins, exiles, and diaspora geographies.
  5. Pilgrimage Routes and Sacred Sites. Pilgrimage routes to Mecca, Compostela, Varanasi, and Buddhist sites map sacred geography worldwide.
  6. Religious Geography and Political Conflict. Shared sacred sites in Jerusalem, Kashmir, and Ayodhya have fueled some of history's sharpest conflicts.
  7. Secularism and Religious Pluralism. Secularism and pluralism describe how modern states manage religious diversity and decline.
  8. Folk Religions and Indigenous Belief Systems. Folk and indigenous religions blend animism, ancestor veneration, and syncretism worldwide.

This module continues after "Linguistic Geography and Language Diffusion" in the syllabus. If you haven't reviewed it yet, it may help set the context.

Key points

Visual module map

1Origins and Diffusion of Christianity
2Origins and Diffusion of Hinduism and Buddhism
3Pilgrimage Routes and Sacred Sites
4Religious Geography and Political Conflict
5Folk Religions and Indigenous Belief Systems

Alternative visual view: a simplified sequence of some of the module's key points, in their order within the syllabus.

Your module mastery

0% (overall measurement)
Approximate breakdown by skill
Understanding of historiographical debate0%

A rough estimate based on the key points reviewed, not an exact measurement of actual mastery.

Final test

You need to review all key points to unlock the final test.

Optional mini-games

Extra practice, with no penalty, to reinforce the module's content.

Review Flashcards

Review each key point with cards that flip to reveal the summary.

Memory

Match each concept with its definition in as few attempts as possible.

Time Attack

Answer true or false statements before time runs out.

Chronological Order

Put the module's key points back in their original order.

Further reading

Bibliography and cited sources used to create this module.

  • Armstrong, K. (1993). A History of God: The 4,000-Year Quest of Judaism, Christianity and Islam. New York: Ballantine Books.
  • Eck, D.L. (2012). India: A Sacred Geography. New York: Harmony Books.
  • Esposito, J.L. (2011). Islam: The Straight Path (4th ed.). New York: Oxford University Press.
  • Park, C.C. (1994). Sacred Worlds: An Introduction to Geography and Religion. London: Routledge.
  • Juergensmeyer, M. (2000). Terror in the Mind of God: The Global Rise of Religious Violence. Berkeley: University of California Press.
  • Pew Research Center. (2012). The Global Religious Landscape. Washington, DC: Pew Research Center.