Diffusion and Hearths of Religions

hearth of hinduism

Indus River Valley; present-day Pakistan

hearth of buddhism

South Asia; present-day Nepal

hearth of Sikhism

Punjab (border of India and Pakistan)

hearth of Judaism

Eastern Mediterranean, southwestern Asia; present-day Israel

hearth of Christianity

Eastern Mediterranean region; present-day Israel and Palestine

hearth of Islam

Southwest Asia

diffusion of Hinduism

• expansion across Indian subcontinent

• in modernity: relocation diffusion

diffusion of Buddhism

• contagious diffusion along land/water trade routes in East/Southeast Asia

• global relocation diffusion

diffusion of Sikhism

• contagious diffusion in South Asia via conversion

• relocation diffusion in former British Empire and United States

  

diffusion of Christianity

• contagious diffusion via conversion and missionaries in Middle East, EU, and Central Asia

• expansion and relocation diffusion using colonialism and imperialism

• hierarchical diffusion through conversion of rulers

diffusion of Islam

• contagious diffusion via trade and conquest among Spain, Africa, and Asia

• relocation globally