During the late medieval period, the involvement of ordinary (lay) people within the church changed. Where the clergy and sacraments were the primary focus of medieval Catholicism, members of the laity increasingly incorporated...

Read the religious writings and sermons of the 17th century American Puritan cleric Cotton Mather.

A look at the reasons for westward expansion, known as Manifest Destiny. Economic, religious, and cultural reasons pushed Americans from sea to shining sea.

The story of how the Black Plague killed hundreds of millions during the Middle Ages, of how it spread, of attempts to cure it, of life during the Plague, the breakdown of society, religious interpretations, ethnic conflict, and a...

Describes the transformation of Iran into an oil-rich country, and the westernization that took place under Shah Reza Pahlavi. This was followed by a religious backlash and the overthrow of the Shah by Ayatollah Khomeini and his...

An excellent overview of the religious importance of the Holy House as a pilgrimage destination. Includes information about the journey of the Holy House to its current location in Loreto, Italy.

The Puritan clergy in Massachusetts Bay colony did not allow religious dissent. Read about the fate of colonists Anne Hutchinson and Roger Williams who believed in religious freedom.

A general history of the founding of Providence, (Rhode Island) and the other three towns that together formed Providence Plantation.

This entry from Encyclopedia Brittanica's Guide to Black History features Tyler Perry, an American playwright, actor, screenwriter, producer, and director whose works, in which he often portrayed the character Madea, an outspoken...

A good look at the philosophy of the Quakers who colonized William Penn's religious refuge in the colony of Pennsylvania. Read about Penn's liberal views about government, religious freedom, and relations with Native Americans.

What began as a place of refuge for Catholics who were discriminated against in England, the colony of Maryland soon suffered religious strife even after the passage of the Toleration Act of 1649. Find out what caused the strife and why...

Site has much to offer on the topic of the 400-year history of religion and public life in America. At this point in time the full videos are available to watch for free. Topics include: American Scripture, God in the White House, Sacred...

In the late 1800's and most of the 1900's countries made many efforts to help Jews in the Soviet Union gain freedom to practice their faith. Countries such as the United States and Israel offered exile to many Jews to escape the...

From a chapter on "Early Globalization: The Atlantic World," this section explains the changes brought by the Protestant Reformation and how it influenced the development of the Atlantic World while describing Spain's response to the...

Learn about religion in the Western Asian country of Georgia, in this Association of Religion Data Archives country profile; includes general facts, history, and religious data.

This entry from the Catholic Encyclopedia traces the history of the Roman Catholic Church in Canada from New France to discussions of state-funded schooling. Please note that the Catholic Encyclopedia is a historic reference document...

This passage in the 1901 textbook of William Morey reviews the cultural changes in Rome up to the end of the Roman Republic.

Follow the spiritual journey of African Americans as you move along a timeline of major events and eras. Excellent coverage of the importance of spiritualism, religions, and faith in the African American community. Major religious...

[Free Registration/Login Required] An excellent essay explaining the roots of the anit-slavery movement in the United States in the early 1830s and its evolution over the next twenty-five years. Read about the abolitionists, both white...

Learn how the political, religious and economic changes in Europe during the Renaissance affected the music of the period. A slide show introduces viewers to a variety of instruments which were developed in conjunction with the new music.

Reference material on the art of ancient India talks about the mysteries and religious symbolism embedded in the art and architecture of ancient river valley civilization.

Colored map that illustrates the religious situation in Europe at the end of the Protestant Reformation.

Reference material gives us an overview of the architecture of ancient China, including the Great Wall, Forbidden City and religious temples.

The site gives a brief history of traditional karate. It explains how a Buddhist monk brought his religious views to China and with that, the start of what was know as "Karate" began to strengthen their bodies.