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Anastasia Cabadas

Dr. Alec Tompson

History 134

26 April 2017

Religious Influences: Shaping History

Throughout human history, there has been one factor which distinguished man from

beast. We, out of all the animals, have a conscious, an inherit will to do good. We have built our

societies upon a moral code, (primarily) for the betterment for all people. And, by general rule,

our societies are based upon the belief that a higher power exists, which transcends our own.

Though my studies of Ancient World History this semester, I have come to realize that religion

plays a focal role as to what makes a civilization; it defines cultures, and its vast ideals have

bound and divided peoples the world over.

For example, though St. Paul1 first introduced the Catholic faith to the Roman Empire, it

was Constantine the Greats2 conversion to the Catholicism which helped it become the main

religion of the failing empire of Rome. Even though the citizens of the Roman empire were

losing their faith in the traditional religions of the Rome, Christianity infused them with a new

sense of hope and purpose. Belief in the afterlife, which did not exist in traditional Roman

religion, gave Roman citizens something to help them overcome their insecurities. The promise

that something better existed beyond this life would rectify the hardships suffered in the now.

(Green.)

A religion of commonality is what the Bedowins, a nomadic people, together through the

Islamic faith. Before Islam, the tribes of Bedowin were in a constant dispute with one another, as

each tribe believed in their own tribal based gods. When the Prophet Mohammed first began
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preaching, his ideals were initially rejected by those but his close family and friends. However,

his messages of peace and unity among the Arabic people eventually brought the people together

in a common belief which is still widely practiced throughout the world.3 (History World.)

Unfortunately, difference in religion caused many as problems within the Ancient World

as it does today. For example, the wars fought by American and NATO allies in the Middle East

today were started (and have been insinuated) by extremists on both sides. Throughout the

Ancient World, dissimilarities in religion caused the rise and fall of many nations.

This kind of disarray prompted kings and emperors throughout history to take matters

into their own hands, which many times resulted in persecutions and bloodshed. Yet, some

leaders, such as Emperor Leo III of the Byzantine Empire, approached the matter from a slightly

different angle. He turned his sights on Christian4 religious icons, and ordered their destruction

throughout the empire; an action today known as Iconoclasm. According to one theory posed

by historians, the Emperor did this in an attempt to unify the Muslim and Jewish communities

within the empire, as members of both faiths believed Christian images to denote idolatry.

Regrettably, his decision caused more harm than good, and the empire soon spiraled into civil

war. (Dalto.) Despite technological advances, similar poor decisions have been made within the

20th and 21st centuries; it would seem mankind has an uncanny knack for repetition.

Amongst the turmoil of our sordid history, civilization based upon messages of peace

come as a breath of fresh air. Emperor Asoka of the Mauryan Empire, who believed warfare was

his sole purpose in life, had a drastic change of heart after witnessing the horrors following his

insurgences in Kalinga.5 He renounced violence, and vowed from then on, peace would reign

within the Mauryan Empire.

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The teachings of Buddhism, which had become the focal point of the empire, influenced

diplomatic relations between nations; trade flourished between the Mauryan Empire and the rest

of the known world. And, like the hippies in the 1960s whom advocated against violence of any

kind, Asoka ruled with a gentleness which has not been heard of before, nor since, of any world

ruler. (TimeMap.) His example demonstrates a glimpse into what our world today could become,

if peacemaking efforts were prioritized.

Human history itself is not inconsequential to our identity today; history is the cause of

our societies in the now- just as our actions today shall affect the tomorrow. As Michael Postma,

a coordinator of High Potential Services and the Minnetonka Navigator Program at Minnetonka

(Minn.) Public Schools, said, historical narratives offer us stories of humility, courage,

wisdom, andmost importanthope. In essence, history teaches us to move forward, recognize

our mistakes and learn from them, and ultimately create a better existence for all.

Let us not forget the experiences of our ancestors- their hardships and joys are applicable

to us now; we must build upon their discoveries, learn upon their mistakes. For only then can we

reach a higher level of existence, something better and purer than we have ever been.
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Notes

1. See Crash Course World History #11 for more information about St. Paul. (time

08:37-09:10)
2. For Constantine, there were obvious political advantage to being a Catholic; the

benefits of securing the loyalties of a majority of the populace, as well as the control

he exercised over a powerful religion.

3. Please see Islam From The Beginning To 1300 for greater details about Mohammed

and the founding of Islam.

4. It is important to note that Christianity was the main religion of the Byzantine

Empire.
5. Region of Eastern India with whom Asoka was at war.

Works Cited
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Civilization: The Mauryan Empire. TimeMaps, www.timemaps.com/civilizations/the-

mauryan-empire/. Accessed 26 Apr. 2017.

Article discusses the Mauryan Empire and the influences Buddhism had on Emperor

Asoka and the empire. Though a noble ruler, Asokas interpretation of Buddhism lead to the

eventual fall of the Mauryan Empire. However, it is because of Asoka that Buddhism is so

widely spread today.

Dalto, Davor. Iconoclastic Controversies. Khan Academy,

www.khanacademy.org/humanities/medieval-world/byzantine1/beginners-guide-

byzantine/a/iconoclastic-controversies. Accessed 26 Apr. 2017.

Dr. Daltos paper explains what Iconoclasm is, when it took place in the Byzantine

Empire, and the controversy surrounding the reasons as to why it came into practice.

Green, John. Christianity from Judaism to Constantine: Crash Course World History

#11. YouTube, YouTube, 5 Apr. 2012, www.youtube.com/watch?v=TG55ErfdaeY. Accessed 26

Apr. 2017.

A video which provides a brief summary of the transition of Judaism to Christianity in

the Ancient world. Green competently explains how Christianity originated from Judaism, and

how this new religion spread throughout the Roman Empire.

Islam From The Beginning To 1300. Islam, Muhammad, Prophet Of Islam, History

World, 2002, history-world.org/islam2.htm. Accessed 26 Apr. 2017.

An article on the life and revelations of the Prophet Mohammed. Provides a basic, albeit

educational, background to Islams story of origin.

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Postma, Michael. What Can History Teach Us Today? ASCD Express 6.22 - What Can

History Teach Us Today?, ASCD, 2011, www.ascd.org/ascd-express/vol6/622-postma.aspx.

Accessed 26 Apr. 2017.

In his short article, Postma opens the readers eyes as to the decline of Social Studies

within student curricula. He voices convincing reasons as to why the study of history is

important in modern day society.