1450 – 1750 Changes in Religion and Belief

1. 1450 – 1750 CHANGES in BELIEF SYSTEMS Europe, Islamic Empires, China

2. WESTERN EUROPEAN Christianity SPLIT in WESTERN CHRISTIANITY (1500s -) PROTESTANT Christianity broke from ROMAN CATHOLIC CHRISTIANITY Martin Luther led attacks on Roman Catholic corruption and practice Emphasized equality among believers Spain? Portugal? Netherlands? Great Britain? CHRISTIANITY SPREAD Both Protestant and Roman Catholic groups made efforts to spread Christianity to the Americas and parts of Asia.

3. ISLAMIC WORLD REFORMS in ISLAMIC WORLD Several groups worked to attack corruption of Islam and syncretism (mixing of Islam with other cultures and beliefs) WAHABISM (1700s) Return to strict adherence to monotheism and the sharia Combined with a new political state in Arabian peninsula

4. SOUTH ASIA – Islam & Hinduism BHAKTI MOVEMENT – Hinduism 1500s effort to achieve union with the divine through songs, prayers, dances, poetry, and rituals Helped blend elements of Sufism and Hinduism SIKHISM – 1500s Blend of Hinduism and Islam gradually became its own religion Sikhs developed into a militant community

5. CHINA Buddhism became more accessible to common people (salvation available to all) NEO-CONFUCIANISM Revival of Confucianism in both Ming & Qing dynasties