The birth of religions and philosophies in the ancient world Since the beginning of time, people all over the world have wondered where we come from, what the Our divine purpose in life is, and what we can expect after death. Questions about right and wrong, society and government, nature and the cosmos, are some of the few wonders that ultimately created some of the first philosophies and religions, helping people find peace and explanation to the vast curiosity that still troubles us in modern times . . From a technical point of view, religion is defined as an eternal devotion to a recognized higher being or entity, through a personal or formed practice of belief. Philosophy, on the other hand, refers to the particular study of common and fundamental problems faced, as related to existence, reality, reason, values, knowledge and language. In areas of Eurasia such as India and parts of Nepal, a collection of the major religions we know today began to form and flourish, finally becoming established around 600 AD (O'Brien). This is where Hinduism is recognized as the oldest religion founded in the ancient world, followed closely by the philosophical teachings of Siddhartha Gautama. Hinduism was in any case a religion and was characterized as polytheistic, meaning that believers worshiped many higher beings or deities, who were later considered aspects of a single god. The origins of this ancient religion are found in the Indus civilization, as well as in some parts of the sacrificial cults of the Indo-Aryans who immigrated to the Indian subcontinent in 1500 BC. The sacred writings of the Hindu religion, called the Vedas, attributed meaning and importance to legends, myths and hymns (O'Brien). T...... middle of paper ......rded in human history who have not practiced any form of religion”, (Religion). The importance of this “birth” of religion and philosophy was crucial to the progress of the ancient worlds, as it set in stone how each country would advance or prosper, each offering something unique and different to the melting pot of cultural diversity and of culture. unification of people in the world.Works Cited"The Four Noble Truths". BBC News. BBC, 17 November 2009. Web. 23 April 2014..Marco, Giosuè. "Religion." Encyclopedia of Ancient History. Ancient History Encyclopedia Limited, 2 September 2009. Web. 23 April 2014. .O'Brien, Patrick. "The Birth of World Religions". Atlas of World History. 2nd ed., Rev. ed.Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2010. Print.