istoryworld
Events relating to religion
St Benedict founds a monastery at Monte Cassino and writes a Rule for the monks which becomes the basis of the Benedictine order
A Buddhist image, sent as a gift from Korea, introduces the religion to Japan
Christianity reaches the kingdom of Dongola, in present-day Sudan
St Columba establishes a monastery on the island of Iona, from which Celtic Christianity is carried to Scotland and northern England
St David founds monasteries in Wales and makes his base at Mynyw, a place now known after him as St David's
The word filioque ('and from the Son') becomes a major bone of contention between the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches
Augustine, arriving with a party of monks from Rome, reaches Canterbury and is well received by the pagan king of Kent
Ritual intoning of the psalms, derived from Jewish synagogues, is formalized in Christian worship as Gregorian chant
The walls of caves at Ajanta are profusely decorated with Buddhist murals
Prince Shotoku Taishi, an enthusiastic patron of Buddhism, builds the Horyuji temple and pagoda at Nara
St Columban founds a monastery at Bobbio, the furthest outpost of Celtic Christianity
Muhammad begins preaching in Mecca the message of Allah, dictated to him by the archangel Gabriel
When the Persians sack Jerusalem, they carry off to Ctesiphon Christianity's most sacred relic - the True Cross
The Irish monk St Aidan moves from Iona to establish a monastery on Lindisfarne
Muhammad departs from Mecca and settles in Medina, in the event known as the Hegira
The year of the Hegira (Muhammad's move from Mecca to Medina) becomes Anno Hegirae or AH1, the first year in Muslim chronology
The Byzantine emperor Heraclius recovers the True Cross from Ctesiphon
Mecca becomes the holy city of Islam and soon all Arabia accepts the new religion
The death of Muhammad at Medina is followed by the election of the first caliph, Abu Bakr, a father-in-law of the prophet
Omar, another father-in-law of Muhammad, is elected as the second Muslim caliph (the word means 'sucessor to the Messenger of God')
Within two years of the death of Muhammad, the Arabs surge north into the Syrian desert
The Arab capture of Jerusalem brings Palestine and Syria under Muslim control
The unopposed capture of Alexandria by the Arabs completes the Muslim conquest of Egypt
The Coptic Christians of Egypt become isolated after the Muslim conquest
After the assassination of Omar, Othman is elected as the third Muslim caliph
