In which John Green teaches you about Sub-Saharan Africa! So, what exactly was going on there? It turns out, it was a lot of trade, converting to Islam, visits from Ibn Battuta, trade, beautiful women, trade, some impressive...

In which John Green teaches you the history of Islam, including the revelation of the Qu'ran to Muhammad, the five pillars of Islam, how the Islamic empire got its start, the Rightly Guided Caliphs, and more. Learn about hadiths, Abu...

Unlike her European counterparts, the Netherlands invested very little in education within its colonies. While the Dutch introduced a system of formal education for the local population of Indonesia, it was restricted to certain...

Many people in Indonesia believe in the spiritual power behind objects and forces, and most societies have organized ceremonies and rituals to mollify these spirits. In Indonesia, traditional animist beliefs have been combined with the...

Togetherness defines the collectivist rhythm of Indonesians’ lives. In Indonesian society, the role of the individual is subordinate to that of the group. Although development has brought many imported, impersonal elements of urban life...

Germany guarantees its people the freedom to practice the religion of their choice; there is no state religion. Protestant and Catholic churches have enjoyed equal status in Germany for centuries. The Peace of Augsburg in 1555 recognized...

The French believe strongly in the separation of church and state, and the constitution notes the secular foundation of the country’s principles. French secular attitudes permeate many aspects of daily life. In fact, in an effort to...

Officially, China is an atheist society, although freedom of worship is guaranteed under the Chinese constitution. Religious beliefs vary widely, which isn’t surprising in a country with 56 officially recognized national minorities....

The official language of Indonesia, Indonesian, is spoken throughout the archipelago and is the language of instruction. The Indonesian word for language is Bahasa, and in-country, the language is commonly referred to as Bahasa...

Like many aspects of Saudi Arabia, the country’s economy is a mix of contradictions. Thanks to its abundant oil reserves, Saudi Arabia is the 19th-largest economy in the world. The country is a member of the G20 and has a per capita...

Saudi Arabia is a relatively young country, less than a century old. Learn about the political-religious alliance formed in the eighteenth century that provided the framework for Saudi expansion and remains the basis of its dynastic...

Singapore is a secular state, and people of all religions are free to worship. This history of religious tolerance dates back to a time when traders, immigrants, and conquerors introduced the islanders to their religions. Over the...

The legal system of Saudi Arabia is based on Sharia. Sharia is the paramount body of Islamic law, a collection of fundamental principles derived from different sources including the Holy Quran, the Sunna—the sayings and traditions of the...

Saudi Arabia is one of only two countries—the other being Vatican City—that do not have a separate legislative body. Political parties are banned, and there is no national legislative body or general elections. Historically, Saudi kings...

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is an absolute Islamic monarchy that has been ruled by the Al Saud family since the country’s creation in 1932. The descendant kings serve as both head of state and head of government. All six kings of Saudi...

An animated video infographic showing every terrorist attack with more than 20 deaths between 1/12/2000 and 11/13/2015.

America's ten most (and least) religious states, compared.

By 2050, the number of Muslims around the world will nearly equal the number of Christians, as Islam will grow faster than any other major world religion.

A video about north and central Africa.

This World Cultures instructional video depicts the rise of Islam.

When we think of world religions, we often think of the Big Five: Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism. But why do we think of those? In this episode of Crash Course Religions, we’ll learn why “world religions” is a...

Many Muslims believe it’s their religious duty to pray five times a day in the direction of the Kaaba in Mecca. But how do they do it in space? In this episode of Crash Course Religions, we dig into the beliefs, pillars, and spread of...

Howcast - In Islam, a set of dietary regulations determines what you can eat. Here’s how to serve up a meal according to the basic rules.

Afaq Khoja Mausoleum in Kashgar, China, is a key historical site along the Silk Road. It marks the burial place of Afaq Khoja, a notable 17th-century Sufi leader. The mausoleum features impressive Islamic architecture, including a large...