MCCCD Program Description

History of Religion

Course: HIS212

First Term: 2019 Spring

Lecture 3.0 Credit(s) 3.0 Period(s) 3.0 Load
Subject Type: Academic
Load Formula: S - Standard Load

Description: Survey of the historical contexts in which the major religions have emerged and evolved. Focuses on social and political events throughout history and their impact on religious beliefs and practices.

MCCCD Official Course Competencies
1. Define historical context and identify the types of historical circumstances that have impact on religions. (I) 2. Describe the influence of historical, social, and political events on the development of various world religions. (II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX, X, XI) 3. Describe the historical, social, and political influences on the emergence and establishment of Hinduism. (II) 4. Analyze the historical periods which produced key splits within the various sects of Hinduism. (III, IV) 5. Describe the historical, social, and political influences on the emergence and establishment of Buddhism. (III) 6. Analyze the historical periods which produced key splits within Buddhism. (IV) 7. Describe the historical, social, and political influences on the emergence and establishment of Judaism. (V) 8. Describe the historical, social, and political influences on the emergence and establishment of Christianity. (VI) 9. Describe the historical, social, and political influences on the emergence and establishment of Islam. (VII) 10. Analyze the historical periods which produced key splits within Islam. (VIII) 11. Analyze the historical periods which produced key splits within Christianity. (X) 12. Analyze the historical periods which produced key splits within Judaism. (XI)
MCCCD Official Course Competencies must be coordinated with the content outline so that each major point in the outline serves one or more competencies. MCCCD faculty retains authority in determining the pedagogical approach, methodology, content sequencing, and assessment metrics for student work. Please see individual course syllabi for additional information, including specific course requirements.

MCCCD Official Course Outline
I. What is Historical Context A. Components of an historical perspective B. Theories: different lenses of history C. Perspectives: different focus points II. India (2500 - 1700 BCE) A. Indus Valley Civilization B. Historical Context for the creation of the Vedas III. India (600 BCE) A. Historical context of Siddartha Gautama B. Historical, political, and social contexts for the reformation of Hinduism and the creation of Buddhism IV. India (300 CE-400 CE) A. Historical context for the Buddhism split into Theravada and Mahayana B. Historical factors and influences on the creation of Vedanta V. Middle East (1900 BCE - 0 CE) A. Historical context of the era and its influence of Abraham and the emergence of Judaism B. Historical context and its impact on the Diaspora VI. Middle East (0-1000 CE) A. Historical context of the period of Jesus of Nazareth B. Political and Social influences of the Roman Empire on the development of early Christianity VII. Middle East (600 CE) A. Historical context of the period of Muhammad B. Historical, political, and social influence on the development of early Islam VIII. Middle East (1500-1900s CE) A. Shia and Sunni branches of Islam B. Historical, political, and social context for the conflict between Shia and Sunni Islam IX. Europe (0-1800) A. Historical, political, and social influences on the emergence and development of Judaism in Europe B. Historical development of anti-Semitism X. Europe (1000-1700s CE) A. Historical, political, and social influences on Christianity during the High Middle Ages B. Historical, political, and social influences on the Christian Protestant Reformation XI. Europe (1800 - 1900s CE) A. Historical context of the development of modern Judaism B. Historical, political, and social factors influential in the splits into Reform, Conservative, Reconstructionist, and Orthodox subgroups

MCCCD Governing Board Approval Date: June 26, 2018

All information published is subject to change without notice. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of information presented, but based on the dynamic nature of the curricular process, course and program information is subject to change in order to reflect the most current information available.