Hinduism developed gradually over many centuries among peoples living in the river valleys and plains of which world region?

Which collection of ancient hymns, prayers, and ritual instructions forms the oldest group of sacred texts in Hinduism?

Hindus hold that a soul lives many lives, being reborn into a new body after death. What is this cycle of rebirth called?

Buddhist teaching holds that suffering can be ended by following the Four Noble Truths together with which set of guidelines for living?

Which ruler of the Mauryan Empire in South Asia supported Buddhism and had its teachings carved onto stone pillars during the 200s BCE?

Judaism, one of the oldest monotheistic belief systems, first developed among the Hebrews in ancient Canaan. Canaan lay in which world region?

What is the name of the first five books of the Hebrew scriptures, which Jews treat as their central sacred text?

Jewish tradition traces its beginnings to a figure whom the Hebrew scriptures describe as leaving Mesopotamia to settle in Canaan. Who is that figure?

Jewish law set rules for worship, diet, and a weekly day of rest called the Sabbath. What did these practices most help Jewish communities do?

Christianity began during the first century CE in Judea, a province governed by which empire?

Which collection of writings do Christians regard as their sacred text?

Islam arose during the 600s CE among the trading towns and desert caravan routes of which region?

Muslims regard which text, which they hold records revelations given in Arabic, as the sacred scripture of Islam?

Four of the Five Pillars of Islam are the declaration of faith, daily prayer, giving to charity, and fasting during Ramadan. What is the fifth pillar?

Jews, Christians, and Muslims each hold that there is one God. What term describes a belief system built on the worship of a single god?

Ancient Egyptians and ancient Greeks each honored many gods, building temples and holding festivals for them. What term describes a belief system with many gods?

Which belief system, based on teachings gathered in the Analects, held that social order grows from respect within the family and duty between ruler and subject?

Which text, traditionally credited to the teacher Laozi, teaches people to live in harmony with the Way?

Siddhartha Gautama, a prince who gave up his wealth to search for a way to end suffering, founded which belief system?

Confucianism and Daoism both arose in ancient China.