Oklahoma Academic Standard 1. The student will analyze and summarize the impact of the major patterns of political, economic, and cultural change over time to 1450 CE and their long-term influences.

Objective 1.2  Describe the origins, major beliefs, spread and lasting impact of the world’s major religions and philosophies, including Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism, Christianity, Islam, Confucianism, and Sikhism.

In a Nutshell

Religion is a core element of culture and various beliefs or religious philosophies have guided actions of people throughout history. Examining the dominant belief systems within the context of their origin, belief system, and impact will allow students to identify commonalities and differences, as well as the influence religion has played in human history.

Teacher Action 

Student Action 

• Assist students in the development of questions using multiple historical sources, related to the world’s major religions, to pursue further inquiry and investigate additional sources. 

• Aid students in investigating and evaluating answers to the similarities and differences of the major belief structures and their interactions. 

• Evaluate how complex events, such as the spread of major religions, are shaped by unique circumstances of time and place, as well as broader historical contexts.

• Evaluate primary source materials citing evidence which reflects the beliefs and impact of the various religions and philosophies.

Key Concepts 

Misconceptions 

• religion as a core of all human civilizations

• similarities and differences in origins, development and geographic spread, major beliefs and practices

• Some students may have prior knowledge of world religions from previous geography coursework, yet lack an historical examination and comparison of core tenets and interactions during the founding eras of world religions.

• Some students may possess misconceptions and stereotypes of certain religions or their followers. 

Instructional Resources