Mapping 180,000 Years of Religion: The 1943 ‘Histomap’ Chart
For many modern individuals, the primary religious decision often appears straightforward: either adhere to the belief system in which you were raised or abandon it altogether. However, when you consider the multitude of religions worldwide, this choice becomes less binary. When you further include the diverse range of religions throughout human history, the landscape becomes incredibly diverse, akin to the intricate and information-rich Histomap of Religion created in 1943 by chemist John B. Sparks, previously featured on Vivid Maps for his original Histomap depicting 4,000 Years of World History.
The video below from UsefulCharts delves into Sparks’ Histomap of Religion, highlighting his Histomap of Evolution as another example of how his worldview may not align with current perspectives on these subjects. Despite being over 80 years old, the newer Histomap of Religion offers a valuable perspective on the evolution and intermingling of mankind’s most cherished beliefs, although it does not incorporate more recent scholarship in religion and related fields.
Starting in prehistory, the chart categorizes early faiths into “magic and fetishism,” “tabu and totemism,” “ancestor worship,” “tribal gods and divine kings,” “propitiation of nature spirits,” and “fertility cults.” While Sparks’ information may be based on outdated theories, the broad ideas behind these categories still hold some validity. The chart illustrates the expansion and contraction of adherence to these early forms of religion over time through changes in the width of the colored columns representing them.
As you progress through history, you encounter more recognizable religions such as Taoism, Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism, and various forms of Christianity. Additionally, the chart includes movements and figures that may not immediately appear religious, such as humanism, represented by individuals like Shakespeare and Rousseau. Later, the chart shows the development of communism from the ideas of Russian intellectuals like Vissarion Belinsky and Alexander Herzen, eventually characterized as a “corrupt philosophy” supporting a “police state aimed at world domination.”
While some may argue that if communism is considered a religion, then capitalism should also be categorized as such, the chart raises broader questions about the nature of religion itself. After contemplating this dense chart of “cults, faiths, and ethical philosophies,” one may begin to consider whether all of humanity’s endeavors are, in some sense, ultimately religious in nature.
If you enjoy this timeline poster, be sure to explore these other posters too!
- Histomap 4,000 Years of World History Timeline Poster
- World History Timeline
- Adams Synchronological Chart or Map of History – Historical Timeline Wall Panel
- British History Timeline
- Gallopade Publishing Group Our Big Cool USA History
