Rapid Review
Although polytheism was the most common religious belief among early agricultural and nomadic
peoples, a number of major belief systems arose before 600 CE. Monotheism was the gift of Judaism,
which, in turn, became the source of the Christian religion. In India, two faiths—Hinduism and
Buddhism—emerged from the diverse social structure of South Asia. In China, Confucianism and
Daoism blended family and political order with the balance of nature to define Chinese philosophical
thought.
Review Questions
1 . Both Hinduism and Buddhism
(A) supported the caste system
(B) revered women
(C) became increasingly popular in India
(D) none of the above
2 . Christianity
(A) remained a religion of the Roman Empire
(B) taught the forgiveness of sins through faith in Jesus
(C) was not a missionary religion
(D) failed to utilize the public works of the Roman Empire
3 . Confucianism and early Buddhism
(A) became the dominant philosophy of their respective regions
(B) emphasized the importance of effective government
(C) included a belief in nirvana
(D) did not believe that their founders were gods
4 . Daoism and Confucianism
(A) agreed on the importance of education
(B) disagreed on the need for personal reflection
(C) taught that active political involvement was essential to a stable society
(D) based their teachings on Chinese traditions
5 . The Silk Roads were especially instrumental in the spread of
(A) Confucianism
(B) Daoism
(C) Buddhism
(D) Judaism
6 . During the period of the late Roman Empire, Christianity
(A) experienced a change in its official status
(B) declined in numbers because of persecutions