istoryworld
Events relating to religion
Gautama, after a night of meditation under a pipal tree at Buddh Gaya, is 'enlightened' and becomes the Buddha
Buddha introduces a vigorous tradition of monasticism, in the order of Buddhist monks known as Sangha
Daodejing ('The Way and the Power') is the book of Daoism
Daoism, attributed to the mythical sage Lao Tzu, becomes a popular alternative to the solemnity of Confucianism
The Mahabharata, India's great national epic, begins to take shape
Vishnu, Shiva and Brahma emerge as India's trio of main gods, with the Vedic religion of the Aryans evolving into Hinduism
Vesta, goddess of the hearth, is served in Rome by virgin priestesses who tend the sacred flame in her shrine
In the Chinese religion of Taoism it is argued that species have developed in response to their environment
The Jewish community of Alexandria coins the word diaspora for Jews living far from Israel
The Jews of Alexandria commission the Greek translation of the Old Testament which becomes known as the Septuagint
Asoka, extending his rule over much of India, proclaims his Buddhist faith on pillars and in rock inscriptions
Buddhism reaches Sri Lanka as a result of the missionary efforts of the Indian ruler, Asoka
The earth drawings of the Nazca people, known now as the Nazca Lines, are some of the largest works of art ever created
Antiochus IV places a statue of Zeus above the altar of the Temple in Jerusalem, provoking violent reactions from the Jews
The Jewish leader Judas the Maccabee captures Jerusalem and cleanses the Temple
Simon the Maccabee is appointed high priest of the Temple in Jerusalem, with the position declared hereditary in his family
The priestly Sadducees are confronted in the Sanhedrin by a new opposition party - the Pharisees
The Essenes, a Jewish sect, withdraw from secular life to form monastic communities in the desert
Caesar is elected Pontifex Maximus, the chief priest of the Roman state religion
A body preserved in the tannin of Lindow Moss, an English peat bog, is probably a sacrificial victim of the Druids
The Great Stupa at Sanchi is the earliest surviving Buddhist stupa
A doctrinal split emerges within Jainism over whether a devotee must go naked (sky clad) or may be allowed a simple robe (white clad)
Herod the Great, king of Judaea, begins to build a spectacular new Temple for the Jews on the sacred mount in Jerusalem
According to the Gospel account, Jesus Christ is born in Bethlehem two years before the death of Herod the Great - making the date 6 BC
Herod, according to the Gospel account, orders all newly born infants in Bethlehem to be killed
