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Universal __NOTOC__[[File:KellsFol032vChristEnthroned.jpg|thumbnail|left|250px|Figure 1. While empires often did not start universal religions such as Judaism, Christianity, Zoroastrianism, Islam, and others mostly rose between 500 BCE and 600 CE. Over this 1000 year period, Europe, North Africa, they often did become the Middle East, Central Asia, and parts of East Asia transformed from polytheistic worshiping to believing vehicle in a single god or universal philosophywhich they spread. We often think of For example, Christianity and Islam perhaps greatly expanded as part of the dominant universal religions today, but universal philosophies had begun before these religions and through the vehicle official religion of empires universal religions spreadRome.]]

==Relevance Universal religions such as Judaism, Christianity, Zoroastrianism, Islam, and others mostly rose between 500 BCE and 600 CE. Over this 1000 year period, Europe, North Africa, the Middle East, Central Asia, and parts of East Asia transformed from polytheistic worshiping to believing in a single god or universal philosophy. We often think of Universal Religions Christianity and Islam perhaps as the dominant universal religions today. Still, universal philosophies had begun before these religions, and Empires==through the vehicle of empires, universal religions spread.

===Relevance of Universal Religions and Empires===Scholars and others do suspect that Judaism may have been one of the first universal religions, where only one God was seen as existing , and the religion had a direct impact to on all rather than a select people. However, when Judaism became universal is not clear, as evidence for its earlier worship suggest suggests many believers likely worshiped other gods as well. During the rise of large-scale empires in Eurasia, we begin to see universal philosophies spreading , such as the Greek philosophy of universal world-order (<i>kosmos</i>).<ref>For more on universal philosophies, see: Najemy, R. E. (1990). <i>Universal philosophy.</i> Markopoulo, Greece: Holistic Harmony.</ref>

Perhaps the biggest impact empires facilitated is they allowed people from many different ethnic and religious background backgrounds to more freely intermix(Figure 1). Ideas now began to be shared among many people, where even polytheistic faiths were beginning began to share similar concepts. After the 6th and 5th century BCE, universal ideals became more evident , and this could have been a key period in the formulation of universal idealsphilosophies. By the time Alexander reaches India, even Buddhism became influenced by the rising tide of What is telling is universal philosophies. Zoroastrianism became an important universal faith that shared some common ideas as other universal religions, including Christianity. With the rise of Christianity in Rome, particularly first developed in limited regions around the early 4th century CENear East, the Persian Sasanian Empire, Rome's great rival, began to be associated with where Iranian Zoroastrianism and Christianity became Rome's supported religion. To create loyalty and obediencemay have played an important, empires began to increasingly support one religion rather than allow many gods and religions. Persecutions soon became common in the major universal states of Rome and the Sasanian Persians. This continued in subsequent periods when the Byzantine Empire succeeded. With the spread of universal philosophies to Buddhisminfluential role, but this now also allowed universal faiths to spread farther east, spanning now much of the Old Worldis not entirely clear.<ref>For more on how What is clear is those universal philosophies and religions were geographically limited in spread, see: Schott, J. M. (2008). <i>Christianity, empire, and until after the making of religion in late antiquity.</i> Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press3rd century BCE.</ref>

The immediate effect After Alexander had reached India, even Buddhism became influenced by the rising tide of many of the universal philosophies. Zoroastrianism became an important universal faith that shared some common ideas as other universal religions is they led to , including Christianity. With the downfall of many rise of Christianity in Rome, particularly in the old religions that once spanned Eurasia. Graduallyearly 4th century CE, either through persecutionthe Persian Sasanian Empire, financial incentiveRome's great rival, coercion, or just normal belief, most polytheistic religions ceased began to existbe associated with Zoroastrianism, outside of some lingering stories and traditions that often Christianity became incorporated into the new universal religionsRome's supported religion. For exampleTo create loyalty and obedience, empires began to increasingly support one religion rather than allow many saints' days were often days in celebration of ancient gods.<ref>For more on polytheistic faiths and the types of worlds they created, see: Johnston, S. I. (Ed.). (2004). <i>Religions of the ancient world: a guide.</i> Cambridge, Mass: Belknap Press of Harvard University Pressreligions.</ref>

==Impact Persecutions soon became common in the major universal states of Rome and the Sasanian Persians. This continued in subsequent periods when the Byzantine Empire succeeded, although the Iranian Sasanians were far more tolerant than Rome and Byzantium had been. Universal Religions==philosophies also became a type of political football. The rhetoric of invasions became justified by the often one god for the new universal faiths.<ref>For more on how universal philosophies and religions spread, see: Schott, J. M. (2008). <i>Christianity, empire, and the making of religion in late antiquity.</i> Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press.</ref>

The impact was more than immediate effect of many of the universal religions is they led to the disappearance downfall of many of the old religionsthat once spanned Eurasia. Many traditions that were associated with worship began Gradually, either through persecution, financial incentive, coercion, or just normal belief, most polytheistic religions ceased to diminish or cease all together. For instanceexist, observations outside of the planets some lingering stories and stars traditions that often became less relevant as the positioning of the starts and planets were not important in incorporated into the worship of new universal faithsreligions. Old languages such as ancient Egyptian and Akkadian finally disappearedFor example, which led to possible loss of knowledge these ancient languages possessed. Other changes though many saints' days were more related to what universal religions achieved, which is a lessening of ethnic and cultural differences prevalent before and greater cohesion between multiple social groups. Social mobility often days in the religious orders now occurred across ethnic lines, allowing states and empires to depend on people with the same faith rather than same ruling ethnic groups. As ethnic groups shared the same god or religious ideas, then some celebration of the ancient cultural groups disappeared. Gradually, cultural identity in places disappearedgods.<ref>For more on polytheistic faiths and the impact types of universal philosophiesworlds they created, see: PatersonJohnston, AS. I. (Ed. C). (2009, 2004). <i>Three monotheistic faiths--Judaism, Christianity, IslamReligions of the ancient world: an analysis and brief historya guide.</i> BloomingtonCambridge, INMass: AuthorHouseBelknap Press of Harvard University Press.</ref>

Common universal religions did create conflict in places where large non-universal groups persisted===Impact of Universal Religions===[[File:12001510673 e6ab7c17d3 b.jpg|thumbnail|left|250px|Figure 2. For instance, Egypt still had a substantial polytheistic population until the Byzantine Emperor Justinian closed the 's closure of ancient temples in the 6th century CE. Even sometimes within the same universal religion, such as the schism temple of Philae in Christianity over the nature of ChristEgypt, lead led to conflict between the Church and ultimately ultimate death of the establishment of church leaders in cities such as Ctesiphon, Constantinople, ancient polytheistic religions and Romanrelated knowledge. Conflict, in general, began to shift toward religious-based reasons, whereas wars in ]]The impact was more than the past were not seen as divine battles disappearance of good versus evil but rather conflicts where the gods may or may not support their worshipersold religions. With universal religions, however, it was easier Many traditions that were associated with worship began to inspire larger groups and create larger armiesdiminish or cease altogether. Such larger armiesFor instance, such as in observations of the 7th planets and 8th centuries during stars became less relevant as the Islamic conquest positioning of the Middle East, Central Asia, North Africa, stars and parts planets were not important in the worship of Western Europe demonstrated that universal religions could now forge new, powerful armiesfaiths. This was evident again during the period of the Crusades in the 11th Old languages such as ancient Egyptian and 12th centuriesAkkadian finally disappeared, as large armies, made up of a variety which led to the possible loss of Europeans, invaded the Levant to establish new kingdoms in that regionknowledge these ancient languages possessed.<ref>For Other changes were more on conflict and related to what universal faithsreligions achieved, see: Tehranian, M. (2007). <i>Rethinking civilization: resolving conflict in the human family.</i> Abingdon, Oxon: Routledgewhich is a lessening of ethnic and cultural differences prevalent before and greater cohesion between multiple social groups. </ref>

==Modern Impacts of Universal Philosophies==Universal philosophies today have had the most impact Social mobility in affecting our government systems. In Western states, which have been affected by Christianity, laws have been influenced by this faith. Governing styles, particularly kingship and later democracy, have been argued as justified by God. Similarly, Islamic countries have often seen the necessity of being ruled by a Muslim. Laws and institutions are often influenced by this religion in predominately Islamic countries. While clear differences in laws are evident in different universal societiesreligious orders now occurred across ethnic lines, a commonality is universal religions and philosophies have been highly effective in creating common laws and social stability in societies, as greater order is required in all universal religions. The focus on orderly and moral societies emphasizes that governments should reflect the universal philosophy. The effect of this helped to create relatively larger political allowing states in periods following the Roman Empire. Thus, even as Europe recovered from the Dark Ages after the fall of Rome, the power of the Church and religious belief helped empires to unify depend on people around with the figures of anointed kings. This was true in same faith rather than the Islamic world as well, as large empires and states ruled following the 7th century CEsame ruling ethnic groups. Although As ethnic groups shared the large empire initially created began to fragmentsame god or religious ideas, some of the successors were not many and states were largeancient cultural groups disappeared. In effect, rulers could claim lineage to the Prophet and, thus, a right to ruleGradually, allowing them to have authority over wide regions and people. This helped to transcend many of the cultural barriers evident identity in antiquityplaces disappeared.<ref>For more on the impact of universal philosophies and government, see: BowdenPaterson, BrettA. C. (20172009). <i>The strange persistence of universal Three monotheistic faiths--Judaism, Christianity, Islam: an analysis and brief history in political thought.</i> New YorkBloomington, NYIN: Springer Berlin HeidelbergAuthorHouse.</ref>

While states in the Middle East in particular have fragmented in the last century, ethnic identities have reemerged recently. However, despite this fragmentation, the number of political entities is still far less than what was evident in antiquity, particularly before the 1st millennium BCE. The role of universal philosophies and religions continues to allow cultural groups to be socially and politically united, although this unity has begun to fray in more recent periods.<ref>For more on recent politics in the Middle East and intersection of religious justification, see: Tessler, M. A. (2015). <i>Islam and politics in the Middle East: explaining the views of ordinary citizens.</i> Bloomington: Indiana University Press.<dh-ad/ref>

==Summary==Universal Common universal religions fundamentally changed many societiesdid create conflict in places where large non-universal groups persisted. For instance, regardless of Egypt still had a substantial polytheistic population until the Byzantine Emperor Justinian closed in the specific religions or philosophies adopted6th century CE (Figure 2). Universal ideas have helped shift previous philosophies and religions that worshiped many gods to one single, unitary authority. EmpiresEven sometimes within the same universal religion, such as the schism in particularChristianity over the nature of Christ, became associated initially with universal philosophies. Ideals spread, however, have meant this created new forms of conflict that much knowledge led to disputes between the Church and ultimately the establishment of the ancient world was lost church leaders in cities such as old languages Ctesiphon, Constantinople, and beliefs were abandonedRoman. The long-term political impact has been more unified states in the Middle East and Europe Ultimately, as universal faiths helped unite disparate people groups, but they also created conflicts within religions and philosophies have helped states. In general, a conflict began to form states shift toward religious-based on universal belief systemsreasons, whereas wars in the past were not seen as divine battles of good versus evil but rather conflicts where the gods may or may not support their worshipers.

However, with universal religions, it was easier to inspire larger groups and create larger armies to support given factions. Such larger armies, such as in the 7th and 8th centuries during the Islamic conquest of the Middle East, Central Asia, North Africa, and parts of Western Europe, demonstrated that universal religions could now forge new, powerful armies that could more rapidly conquer much larger territory than in earlier periods. This was evident again during the period of the Crusades in the 11th and 12th centuries, as large armies made up of a variety of Europeans invaded the Levant to establish new kingdoms in that region.<ref>For more on conflict and universal faiths, see: Tehranian, M. (2007). <i>Rethinking civilization: resolving conflict in the human family.</i> Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge. </ref> ===Modern Impacts of Universal Philosophies===Universal philosophies today have had the most impact in affecting our government systems. In Western states, which have been affected by Christianity, laws have been influenced by this faith. Governing styles, particularly kingship and later democracy, have been argued as justified by God. Similarly, Islamic countries have often seen the necessity of being ruled by a Muslim. This religion often influences laws and institutions in predominately Islamic countries. While clear differences in in-laws are evident in different universal societies, a commonality is universal religions and philosophies have been highly effective in creating common laws and social stability in societies, as greater order is required in all universal religions. The focus on orderly and moral societies emphasizes that governments should reflect the universal philosophy. The effect of this helped to create relatively larger political states in periods following the Roman Empire.  Thus, even as Europe recovered from the Dark Ages after the fall of Rome, the power of the Church and religious belief helped to unify people around the figures of anointed kings. This was true in the Islamic world, as large empires and states ruled following the 7th century CE. Although the large empire initially created began to fragment, the successors were not many, and states were large. In effect, rulers could claim lineage to the Prophet and, thus, a right to rule, allowing them to have authority over wide regions and people. This helped to transcend many of the cultural barriers evident in antiquity.<ref>For more on universal philosophies and government, see: Bowden, Brett. (2017). <i>The strange persistence of universal history in political thought.</i> New York, NY: Springer Berlin Heidelberg.</ref> While states in the Middle East have fragmented in the last century, ethnic identities have reemerged recently. However, despite this fragmentation, the number of political entities is still far less than what was evident in antiquity, particularly before the 1st millennium BCE. The role of universal philosophies and religions continues to allow cultural groups to be socially and politically united. However, this unity has begun to fray in more recent periods.<ref>For more on recent politics in the Middle East and the intersection of religious justification, see: Tessler, M. A. (2015). <i>Islam and politics in the Middle East: explaining the views of ordinary citizens.</i> Bloomington: Indiana University Press.</ref> ===Summary===Universal religions fundamentally changed many societies, regardless of the specific religions or philosophies adopted. Universal ideas have helped shift previous philosophies and religions that worshiped many gods to one unitary authority. Empires, in particular, became associated initially with universal philosophies. However, ideas spread have meant that much knowledge of the ancient world was lost as old languages and beliefs were abandoned. The long-term political impact has been more unified states in the Middle East and Europe, as universal religions and philosophies have helped form states based on universal belief systems. <youtube>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m6dCxo7t_aE</youtube> <div class="portal" style="width:85%;">==Related DailyHistory.org Articles==*[[What was Plato's academy and why did it influence Western thought?]]*[[Alexander the Great Top Ten Booklist]]*[[Why was Alexander the Great So Successful In His Conquests?]]*[[What Factors Led to the Creation of the First Cities?]]*[[Thomas Jefferson, the Founding Fathers and Christianity: Interview with Sam Haselby]]</div>===References===<references/>[[Category:Wikis]][[Category:Bronze Age History]][[Category:Philosophy]][[Category:Religious History]]{{Contributors}} Updated December 3, 2020