As a Christian, it was insightful to read about the spread of Christianity. In 1500, Christianity was mostly limited to Europe. It was apart of small communities in Egypt, Ethiopia, southern India, and Central Asia. Christianity were on the defensive against Islam due to the fall of Constantinople to the Ottomans in 1453 as well as the Ottoman siege of Vienna in 1529.
Imperialism made the globalization of Christianity possible because the settlers and traders brought their religion with them. The Portuguese missionaries led in Africa and Asia, while the russian orthodox missionaries worked in siberia and the spanish and french missionaries were in the americas. The European missionary success encouraged belief that the old gods had been defeated and the missionaries were successful the most in spanish america and the philippines. Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus and Confucians resisted Christianity more.
Christianity reached China in the powerful, prosperous Ming and Qing dynasties and needed government assistance to operate a missionary strategy. Jesuits targeted the official Chinese elite and appreciated astronomical, cartographical, technological and mathematical skills. In early eighteenth century,papacy and other missionary orders opposed Jesuit accommodation policy was regarded as an affront to Chinese culture and the emperor’s authority.
African types of Christianity came to the Americas with the slaves. Some of their syncretic religions (Vodou, Santeria, Candomble, Macumba) were also around. Wahhabism was an Islamic movement founded by Abd al-Wahhab who was a theologian. Wahhabism was based on the restoration of absolute monotheism, end veneration of saints and strict adherence to the sharia. During this time, the state was "purified" where women were expected to subject themselves to husbands, taxes were abolished, tobacco, hashish, and musical instruments were banned and idols were destroyed. I don't agree with the treatment of women in Wahhabism but given the time, I know that it's expected.
In the early modern period, the ming and qing dynasty China still operated within a Confucian framework. Kaozheng helped the Chinese elite with an emphasized the need for analysis, instead of unsupported speculation, led to new works on agriculture, medicine, etc., critical analysis of ancient historical documents and a scientific approach to knowledge. The Bhakti movement came from India which helped bring the hindus and muslim together. Bhakti appealed to women, set aside caste distinctions, effort to achieve union with the divine through songs, prayers, dances, poetry, and rituals.
African types of Christianity came to the Americas with the slaves. Some of their syncretic religions (Vodou, Santeria, Candomble, Macumba) were also around. Wahhabism was an Islamic movement founded by Abd al-Wahhab who was a theologian. Wahhabism was based on the restoration of absolute monotheism, end veneration of saints and strict adherence to the sharia. During this time, the state was "purified" where women were expected to subject themselves to husbands, taxes were abolished, tobacco, hashish, and musical instruments were banned and idols were destroyed. I don't agree with the treatment of women in Wahhabism but given the time, I know that it's expected.
In the early modern period, the ming and qing dynasty China still operated within a Confucian framework. Kaozheng helped the Chinese elite with an emphasized the need for analysis, instead of unsupported speculation, led to new works on agriculture, medicine, etc., critical analysis of ancient historical documents and a scientific approach to knowledge. The Bhakti movement came from India which helped bring the hindus and muslim together. Bhakti appealed to women, set aside caste distinctions, effort to achieve union with the divine through songs, prayers, dances, poetry, and rituals.
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