From the Axial Age to the New Age: Religion as a Dynamic of World History

Abstract

FROM THE PALEOLITHIC to the neolithic age and from the Axial Age to the New Age, religion has been a key dimension of human societies. Thus, it should be essential to the teaching of a World history course, particularly at the precollegiate level. Often World historians, such as William McNeill and Leften Stavrianos, have posed other dynamics of World history such as trade and technology, but religion needs to be an integral part of any such course.' If history is the study of change and continuity of human societies and ecological systems over time, religion has helped preserve and sustain coherence of societies, maintain connection between civilizations, provide a sense of human progression, induce change-renewal, regeneration, transformation-in cultures, and render insights into the human, natural and supernatural worlds. The thinking and behavior of both individuals and civilizations are often shaped by religious beliefs and values, creating what might be termed a worldview. History, our own nation's pluralism, and contemporary events provide ample evidence that religion is a significant cultural value and powerful motivating force. Needless to say, religion has also inspired much of the world's beautiful art, architecture, literature, and music.2 If one assumes that history attempts to make the present intelligent, and without being a Whig historian, one need only look at recent events