Another philosophy that developed in response to the Era of Warring States was Daoism. Its founder
was Lao-zi (or Lao-tsu), who is believed to have lived during the fifth century BCE. The philosophy
adapted traditional Chinese concepts of balance in nature, or yin (female, submissive) and yang
(male, assertive). According to Daoist philosophy, human understanding comes from following “The
Way,” a life force which exists in nature.
In contrast to the Confucian respect for education and for orderly government, Daoism taught that
political involvement and education were unnecessary. Rather, in time, the natural balance of the
universe would resolve most problems. Chinese thought and practice gradually blended both
Confucianism and Daoism to include a concern for responsibility for the community and time for
personal reflection.
Judaism
Unlike other religions of the period, notably Buddhism and Christianity, Judaism was not a
missionary religion. Although the Jews had lived in Babylon for 70 years, with some Jews remaining
after most of the former captives returned to Babylon, they did little to attempt to convert non-Jews.
From the Jewish faith, however, would come another major world religion: Christianity.
Christianity
A key element of Judaism was the belief that God had promised to send the Jews a Messiah , or a
savior from their sins. Some of the early Jews felt that that promise was fulfilled when Jesus was born
in the Roman province of Judea about 4 to 6 BCE. As an adult, Jesus and his 12 disciples , or
followers, went throughout the land of Judea, preaching the forgiveness of sins. Jesus was also called
Christ, meaning “anointed.” When Jesus’ teachings were feared as a threat to Roman and Jewish
authority, he was tried and put to death by crucifixion.
The network of Roman roads facilitated the spread of Christianity throughout the empire.
Missionaries, traders, and other travelers carried the Christian message of forgiveness of sins and an
afterlife in heaven for those who believed in Jesus as their savior from sin. The greatest missionary
of the early Christian church was Paul of Tarsus. A Roman citizen, he undertook three missionary
journeys throughout the Roman Empire in the first century CE. Accounts of Jesus’ life in addition to
the missionary efforts of Paul and other followers of Jesus are found in the New Testament of the
Christian Bible.
Several Roman emperors considered Christianity a threat to their rule. Although some, such as
Diocletian, persecuted the Christian church, it continued to grow. In 313, the Roman Emperor
Constantine changed the position of earlier Roman emperors regarding Christianity. In the Edict of
Milan he permitted the practice of Christianity in the Roman Empire. Christianity became the official
religion of the Roman Empire in 381 under Emperor Theodosius.
After its adoption as the state church of Rome, Christianity in the West began developing an
organization under the leadership of the bishop of Rome, or pope . In addition to priests who served
local churches, monks and nuns withdrew from society to devote their time to prayer and meditation.
As it spread throughout the Roman world, Christianity gained popularity because of its appeal to all
social classes, especially the poor. Women received new status as Christianity taught that men and
women were equal in matters of faith. After the fall of the Western Roman Empire, Christianity
spread to northern Europe, the Balkans, and Russia.