CurriculumGrade 7Social Studies

World Religions and Cultural Geography

Aligned to C3.D2.Geo — C3 Framework for Social Studies State Standards.

What this lesson teaches

The major world religions — such as Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism — began in particular places and spread along trade routes and through migration. Religion shapes culture: holidays, art, food, laws, and daily life across regions.

Worked example

Buddhism began in India and spread along trade routes across Asia to China and Japan. As it spread it blended with local cultures, which is why Buddhist practice looks different in Tibet than in Japan.

Practice questions

  1. Name two world religions and the region where each began.
  2. How did trade routes help religions spread?
  3. Give one way religion can shape a region's culture.

Watch the lesson

Every lesson comes with a video taught in English and Spanish — the same video the QR code in the printed workbook opens.

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En español

Religiones del Mundo y Geografía Cultural

Las principales religiones del mundo —como el judaísmo, el cristianismo, el islam, el hinduismo y el budismo— surgieron en lugares específicos y se expandieron a través de rutas comerciales y migraciones. La religión moldea la cultura: festividades, arte, gastronomía, leyes y la vida cotidiana de las distintas regiones.

Ejemplo: El budismo nació en la India y se extendió por rutas comerciales a través de Asia hasta China y Japón. Al difundirse, se fusionó con las culturas locales, razón por la cual la práctica budista en el Tíbet es diferente a la de Japón.

More Geography lessons

Mapping the Medieval & Early-Modern WorldC3.D2.Geo.1

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