The map of belief Where each of the world’s religions began, and how it travelled: along trade roads and sea lanes, with missionaries, merchants, armies, migrants and the enslaved. Follow one tradition, or play the centuries and watch the map fill.
140° W 100° W 60° W 20° W 20° E 60° E 100° E 140° E 180° E Abydos · c. 3000 BCE Ancient Egypt: Abydos, c. 3000 BCE Giza and Memphis · c. 2560 BCE Ancient Egypt: Giza and Memphis, c. 2560 BCE Heliopolis · c. 2400 BCE Ancient Egypt: Heliopolis, c. 2400 BCE Thebes · c. 2000 BCE Ancient Egypt: Thebes, c. 2000 BCE Amarna · c. 1346 BCE Ancient Egypt: Amarna, c. 1346 BCE Alexandria · c. 300 BCE, Serapis Ancient Egypt: Alexandria, c. 300 BCE, Serapis Philae · closed c. 535 CE Ancient Egypt: Philae, closed c. 535 CE Ancient Egypt: began in The Nile valley, About 3000 BCE to the 5th–6th century CE Shiraz · 1844, the Báb Bahá’í: Shiraz, 1844, the Báb Tehran · 1852, prison Bahá’í: Tehran, 1852, prison Baghdad · 1853–1863 Bahá’í: Baghdad, 1853–1863 Constantinople · 1863 Bahá’í: Constantinople, 1863 Adrianople · 1863–1868 Bahá’í: Adrianople, 1863–1868 Akka and Haifa · from 1868 Bahá’í: Akka and Haifa, from 1868 Bahá’í: began in Iran (Persia), 1844–1863 CE Bodh Gaya · 5th c. BCE Buddhism: Bodh Gaya, 5th c. BCE Gandhara · 3rd c. BCE Buddhism: Gandhara, 3rd c. BCE Sri Lanka · 3rd c. BCE Buddhism: Sri Lanka, 3rd c. BCE China · 1st c. CE Buddhism: China, 1st c. CE Korea · 4th c. Buddhism: Korea, 4th c. Japan · 6th c. Buddhism: Japan, 6th c. Tibet · 7th c. Buddhism: Tibet, 7th c. Java · 8th c. Buddhism: Java, 8th c. Burma · 11th c. Buddhism: Burma, 11th c. Siam · 13th c. Buddhism: Siam, 13th c. Mongols · 16th c. Buddhism: Mongols, 16th c. Buddhism: began in The Ganges plain, northern India, 5th century BCE Jerusalem · c. 30 CE Christianity: Jerusalem, c. 30 CE Antioch · 1st c. Christianity: Antioch, 1st c. Alexandria · 1st c. Christianity: Alexandria, 1st c. Rome · 1st c. Christianity: Rome, 1st c. Armenia · 301 Christianity: Armenia, 301 Constantinople · 330 Christianity: Constantinople, 330 Aksum · 4th c. Christianity: Aksum, 4th c. Ireland · 5th c. Christianity: Ireland, 5th c. Germany · 8th c. Christianity: Germany, 8th c. Kyiv · 988 Christianity: Kyiv, 988 Christianity: began in Galilee and Jerusalem, in Roman Judea, 1st century CE Qufu · 5th c. BCE Confucianism: Qufu, 5th c. BCE Chang’an · 136 BCE, state orthodoxy Confucianism: Chang’an, 136 BCE, state orthodoxy Korea · 372 Confucianism: Korea, 372 Japan · 7th c. Confucianism: Japan, 7th c. Vietnam · 1070 Confucianism: Vietnam, 1070 Wuyi · 12th c., Zhu Xi Confucianism: Wuyi, 12th c., Zhu Xi Confucianism: began in The state of Lu, in northern China, 6th–5th century BCE Chu · 4th c. BCE Daoism: Chu, 4th c. BCE Mount Heming · 142 CE Daoism: Mount Heming, 142 CE Maoshan · 4th c. Daoism: Maoshan, 4th c. Longhushan · by the 11th c. Daoism: Longhushan, by the 11th c. Zhongnan Mountains · 1167 Daoism: Zhongnan Mountains, 1167 Beijing · 13th c. Daoism: Beijing, 13th c. Wudang Mountains · 15th c. Daoism: Wudang Mountains, 15th c. Taiwan · 1949 Daoism: Taiwan, 1949 Daoism: began in China, Ideas from the 4th century BCE; organised religion from the 2nd century CE Olympia · 776 BCE, first games Greek and Roman: Olympia, 776 BCE, first games Delphi · 8th c. BCE, oracle Greek and Roman: Delphi, 8th c. BCE, oracle Ephesus · c. 550 BCE, Artemis Greek and Roman: Ephesus, c. 550 BCE, Artemis Rome · 509 BCE, Capitol Greek and Roman: Rome, 509 BCE, Capitol Athens · 447 BCE, Parthenon Greek and Roman: Athens, 447 BCE, Parthenon Alexandria · c. 300 BCE Greek and Roman: Alexandria, c. 300 BCE Greek and Roman: began in Greece and Italy, About 1500 BCE to the 4th–5th century CE Punjab · c. 1500 BCE Hinduism: Punjab, c. 1500 BCE Ganges plain · c. 800 BCE Hinduism: Ganges plain, c. 800 BCE Java · 5th c. Hinduism: Java, 5th c. Champa · 5th c. Hinduism: Champa, 5th c. Angkor · 9th c. Hinduism: Angkor, 9th c. Bali · 10th c. Hinduism: Bali, 10th c. Mauritius · 19th c. Hinduism: Mauritius, 19th c. Hinduism: began in The Indian subcontinent, From about 1500 BCE Mecca · 610 Islam: Mecca, 610 Damascus · 634 Islam: Damascus, 634 Iraq · 637 Islam: Iraq, 637 Egypt · 641 Islam: Egypt, 641 Al-Andalus · 711 Islam: Al-Andalus, 711 Sindh · 712 Islam: Sindh, 712 Samarkand · 8th c. Islam: Samarkand, 8th c. Swahili coast · 10th c. Islam: Swahili coast, 10th c. West Africa · 11th c. Islam: West Africa, 11th c. Delhi · 1206 Islam: Delhi, 1206 Sumatra · 13th c. Islam: Sumatra, 13th c. Java · 15th c. Islam: Java, 15th c. Islam: began in Mecca and Medina, in Arabia, 7th century CE Vaishali · 6th–5th c. BCE Jainism: Vaishali, 6th–5th c. BCE Shravanabelagola · c. 300 BCE (tradition) Jainism: Shravanabelagola, c. 300 BCE (tradition) Mathura · 2nd c. BCE Jainism: Mathura, 2nd c. BCE Valabhi · 5th c. Jainism: Valabhi, 5th c. Mount Abu · 11th c. Jainism: Mount Abu, 11th c. Jainism: began in The Ganges plain, northern India, 6th–5th century BCE Jerusalem · c. 1000 BCE Judaism: Jerusalem, c. 1000 BCE Babylon · 586 BCE Judaism: Babylon, 586 BCE Alexandria · 3rd c. BCE Judaism: Alexandria, 3rd c. BCE Rome · 2nd c. BCE Judaism: Rome, 2nd c. BCE Yemen · by the 4th c. Judaism: Yemen, by the 4th c. Iberia · by the 4th c. Judaism: Iberia, by the 4th c. Rhineland · 10th c. Judaism: Rhineland, 10th c. Poland · 13th–14th c. Judaism: Poland, 13th–14th c. Ottoman lands · 1492 Judaism: Ottoman lands, 1492 Amsterdam · 1590s Judaism: Amsterdam, 1590s Judaism: began in Ancient Israel, in the southern Levant, From about 1000 BCE Izumo · ancient Shinto: Izumo, ancient Ise · 7th c. Shinto: Ise, 7th c. Nara · 712, the Kojiki Shinto: Nara, 712, the Kojiki Kyoto · 794 Shinto: Kyoto, 794 Nikko · 1617 Shinto: Nikko, 1617 Sapporo · 1869 Shinto: Sapporo, 1869 Tokyo · 1920, Meiji Jingu Shinto: Tokyo, 1920, Meiji Jingu Shinto: began in Japan, From prehistoric times; first written records 712–720 CE Talwandi · 1469 Sikhism: Talwandi, 1469 Kartarpur · c. 1504 Sikhism: Kartarpur, c. 1504 Goindval · 1550s Sikhism: Goindval, 1550s Amritsar · 1577 Sikhism: Amritsar, 1577 Anandpur · 1699, the Khalsa Sikhism: Anandpur, 1699, the Khalsa Lahore · 1799 Sikhism: Lahore, 1799 Sikhism: began in Punjab, in north-western India and Pakistan, Late 15th century CE Ile-Ife · from c. 1000 CE Yoruba: Ile-Ife, from c. 1000 CE Oyo · 15th–18th c. Yoruba: Oyo, 15th–18th c. Bahia · 19th c., Candomblé Yoruba: Bahia, 19th c., Candomblé Cuba · 19th c., Lucumí Yoruba: Cuba, 19th c., Lucumí Trinidad · 19th c., Orisha Yoruba: Trinidad, 19th c., Orisha Miami and New York · from the 1960s Yoruba: Miami and New York, from the 1960s Yoruba: began in Yorubaland, in today’s Nigeria and Benin, Ancient; Ile-Ife flourished from about 1000 CE Bactria · c. 1000 BCE? Zoroastrianism: Bactria, c. 1000 BCE? Persepolis · 6th c. BCE Zoroastrianism: Persepolis, 6th c. BCE Ctesiphon · 224 CE Zoroastrianism: Ctesiphon, 224 CE Yazd and Kerman · after 651 Zoroastrianism: Yazd and Kerman, after 651 Sanjan · 8th–10th c. Zoroastrianism: Sanjan, 8th–10th c. Bombay · 17th–18th c. Zoroastrianism: Bombay, 17th–18th c. Zoroastrianism: began in Eastern Iran and Central Asia, Between about 1500 and 500 BCE (dates debated) N Cradles of belief
Fifteen traditions, from the Nile to the Yellow River.
Pick a tradition to follow its journey, or move the slider to watch the map fill through five thousand years.
About 3000 BCE to the 5th–6th century CE
Ancient Egypt
Began in The Nile valley.
c. 3000 BCE Abydosc. 2560 BCE Giza and Memphisc. 2400 BCE Heliopolisc. 2000 BCE Thebesc. 1346 BCE Amarnac. 300 BCE, Serapis Alexandriaclosed c. 535 CE PhilaeRead about Ancient Egypt → 1844–1863 CE
Bahá’í
Began in Iran (Persia).
1844, the Báb Shiraz1852, prison Tehran1853–1863 Baghdad1863 Constantinople1863–1868 Adrianoplefrom 1868 Akka and HaifaRead about Bahá’í → 5th century BCE
Buddhism
Began in The Ganges plain, northern India.
5th c. BCE Bodh Gaya3rd c. BCE Gandhara3rd c. BCE Sri Lanka1st c. CE China4th c. Korea6th c. Japan7th c. Tibet8th c. Java11th c. Burma13th c. Siam16th c. MongolsRead about Buddhism → 1st century CE
Christianity
Began in Galilee and Jerusalem, in Roman Judea.
c. 30 CE Jerusalem1st c. Antioch1st c. Alexandria1st c. Rome301 Armenia330 Constantinople4th c. Aksum5th c. Ireland8th c. Germany988 KyivRead about Christianity → 6th–5th century BCE
Confucianism
Began in The state of Lu, in northern China.
5th c. BCE Qufu136 BCE, state orthodoxy Chang’an372 Korea7th c. Japan1070 Vietnam12th c., Zhu Xi WuyiRead about Confucianism → Ideas from the 4th century BCE; organised religion from the 2nd century CE
Daoism
Began in China.
4th c. BCE Chu142 CE Mount Heming4th c. Maoshanby the 11th c. Longhushan1167 Zhongnan Mountains13th c. Beijing15th c. Wudang Mountains1949 TaiwanRead about Daoism → About 1500 BCE to the 4th–5th century CE
Greek and Roman
Began in Greece and Italy.
776 BCE, first games Olympia8th c. BCE, oracle Delphic. 550 BCE, Artemis Ephesus509 BCE, Capitol Rome447 BCE, Parthenon Athensc. 300 BCE AlexandriaRead about Greek and Roman → From about 1500 BCE
Hinduism
Began in The Indian subcontinent.
c. 1500 BCE Punjabc. 800 BCE Ganges plain5th c. Java5th c. Champa9th c. Angkor10th c. Bali19th c. MauritiusRead about Hinduism → 7th century CE
Islam
Began in Mecca and Medina, in Arabia.
610 Mecca634 Damascus637 Iraq641 Egypt711 Al-Andalus712 Sindh8th c. Samarkand10th c. Swahili coast11th c. West Africa1206 Delhi13th c. Sumatra15th c. JavaRead about Islam → 6th–5th century BCE
Jainism
Began in The Ganges plain, northern India.
6th–5th c. BCE Vaishalic. 300 BCE (tradition) Shravanabelagola2nd c. BCE Mathura5th c. Valabhi11th c. Mount AbuRead about Jainism → From about 1000 BCE
Judaism
Began in Ancient Israel, in the southern Levant.
c. 1000 BCE Jerusalem586 BCE Babylon3rd c. BCE Alexandria2nd c. BCE Romeby the 4th c. Yemenby the 4th c. Iberia10th c. Rhineland13th–14th c. Poland1492 Ottoman lands1590s AmsterdamRead about Judaism → From prehistoric times; first written records 712–720 CE
Shinto
Began in Japan.
ancient Izumo7th c. Ise712, the Kojiki Nara794 Kyoto1617 Nikko1869 Sapporo1920, Meiji Jingu TokyoRead about Shinto → Late 15th century CE
Sikhism
Began in Punjab, in north-western India and Pakistan.
1469 Talwandic. 1504 Kartarpur1550s Goindval1577 Amritsar1699, the Khalsa Anandpur1799 LahoreRead about Sikhism → Ancient; Ile-Ife flourished from about 1000 CE
Yoruba
Began in Yorubaland, in today’s Nigeria and Benin.
from c. 1000 CE Ile-Ife15th–18th c. Oyo19th c., Candomblé Bahia19th c., Lucumí Cuba19th c., Orisha Trinidadfrom the 1960s Miami and New YorkRead about Yoruba → Between about 1500 and 500 BCE (dates debated)
Zoroastrianism
Began in Eastern Iran and Central Asia.
c. 1000 BCE? Bactria6th c. BCE Persepolis224 CE Ctesiphonafter 651 Yazd and Kerman8th–10th c. Sanjan17th–18th c. BombayRead about Zoroastrianism → Dates are approximate and mark when a tradition is first attested in a place, not when it became widespread. Coastlines: Natural Earth.