ecumenicism.timeline.subtitle
First organized religious system with written records in Mesopotamia.
First written religious texts appear in cuneiform. Temple worship and priesthood established.
Unification of Egypt. Gods like Ra, Osiris, and Horus become central to Egyptian life.
Traditional date of Abraham, father of monotheism. The covenant with God initiates Jewish history.
The Rigveda and other Vedic texts are composed, forming the foundation of Hinduism.
Moses receives the Torah on Mount Sinai. The Exodus shapes Jewish identity.
The prophet Zarathustra teaches monotheism and ethical dualism in ancient Persia.
Traditional date of Exodus and revelation at Mount Sinai.
Philosophical texts exploring Brahman, Atman, and the nature of reality.
Possible date of Zoroaster; first ethical monotheism takes shape.
Confucius is born in China. His teachings on ethics and social harmony will shape East Asia.
Siddhartha Gautama achieves awakening under the Bodhi tree and begins teaching the Dharma.
The foundational text of Taoism, attributed to Laozi, teaches living in harmony with the Tao.
Ministry, death, and reported resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth.
Christians believe Jesus died and rose again, offering salvation to humanity.
The angel Gabriel reveals the first verses of the Quran to Muhammad in a cave near Mecca.
The founder of Sikhism is born in Punjab, teaching equality and devotion to one God.
Guru Nanak develops teachings that will become Sikhism.
In the Garden of Ridvan, Bahaullah declares himself the promised one of all religions.