Religion: Definition and World Religions (Video) | HISTORY

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The Bible

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The Bible

Old Testament The Old Testament is the first section of the Bible, covering the creation of Earth through Noah and the flood, Moses and more, finishing with the Jews being expelled to Babylon. The Bible’s Old Testament is very similar to the Hebrew Bible, which has origins in the ancient religion of Judaism. The exact […]

HISTORY: Judaism

Judaism

Judaism is the world’s oldest monotheistic religion, founded nearly 4,000 years ago. Followers of Judaism believe in one God who revealed himself through ancient prophets.

Islam

Islam is the second largest religion in the world after Christianity, with about 1.8 billion Muslims worldwide. Although its roots go back further, scholars typically date the creation of Islam to the 7th century, making it the youngest of the major world religions.

HISTORY: Buddhism

Buddhism

Buddhism is a faith that was founded by Siddhartha Gautama—also known as “the Buddha”—more than 2,500 years ago in India. With an estimated 500 million to one billion followers, scholars consider Buddhism one of the major world religions.

Stories

Ancient manuscripts of Timbuktu.

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How Timbuktu Flourished During the Golden Age of Islam

During the 15th and 16th centuries, Timbuktu, located in Mali, served as a major intellectual hub of Islamic civilization.

Lit candles in a menorah.

8 Hanukkah Traditions and Their Origins

From lighting a menorah, to giving out gelt, to eating cheese—find out how these Hanukkah traditions began.

Shadowy black and white print showing the back of a kneeling woman reaching up toward a tall robed god, with a dead man lying on the ground beside her

6 Ancient Resurrection Stories

Jesus wasn’t the only one believed to have risen from the dead. The concept of resurrection appears in ancient cultures around the world.

How the Renaissance Influenced Reformation

How the Renaissance Challenged the Church and Influenced the Reformation

As interest in cultural, intellectual and scientific exploration flourished, support for an all-powerful church diminished.

Videos

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Vatican City

Did you know the Vatican is the smallest nation-state in the world? Get all the facts and figures.

History of Vatican City

In the 16th century, the pope ruled over a vast area of Italy called the Papal States.

History of Saint Peter’s Basilica

Saint Peter’s Basilica is built upon what some historians believe to be Saint Peter’s ancient remains.

Inside The Vatican Archives

The Vatican Archives hold some unexpected papal correspondence.

This Day in History

1394

King Charles VI of France orders all Jews expelled from the kingdom

1492

Spain announces it will expel all Jews

1531

Pope Clement VII forbids King Henry VIII from remarrying

1844

Brigham Young chosen to lead Mormon Church

2013

Pope Benedict resigns

2005

This Day In History: 04/02/2005 – Pope John Paul II Dies