BIBLICAL JUDIASM – c. Twentieth Century to Fourth Century BC.   

ABRAHAM, prophet, c. Eighteenth – Seventeenth Century BC.  He and his people left northern Mesopotamia (Iraq) for Canaan or Palestine, (modern Israel and Lebanon.)

MOSES, prophet, c. Thirteenth Century BC.  Left Egypt to return to Canaan.

HINDUISM – India, c. 1500 BC.

JAINISM – Reform of Hinduism – India.  Mahavira, founder, (c. 599 – 527 BC).

BUDDHISM – Also reform of Hinduism – India.  Gautama Buddha, founder, (c. 563- 483 BC).  Philosophy and Religion spread to China and throughout Asia.

CONFUCISM – China.  Confucius, Philosopher Founder, (c.551 – 479 BC).

SHINTOISM – Japan. Fifth and Sixth Centuries AD.  Influenced by both Buddhism and Confucianism.

TAOISM – China.  Spread to Japan, Vietnam and especially Korea, c. (?) 481 – 221 BC. Lao-Tzu, traditional founder, a mysterious master.  Philosophical and Religious divisions often at odds with each other.  Yin and Yang, etc.   It has links to Persian Mazdaism.

CHRISTIANITY – Roman State of Palestine.  Jesus Christ, 33 AD.

ISLAM – Modern Saudia Arabia.  Mohammed, (565 – 636 AD).