The Development & Codification of Religious & Cultural Traditions Religions Address questions of morality & spirituality Provide societies w/ a sense of unity Inspire art & architecture Justifying social & political life government social hierarchies gender norms At times opposed scientific innovation & social progress Clashes btwn faiths can provoke discrimination & conflict The development of religions worldwide (600BCE-600CE) Existing religions reformed themselves significantly New religions appeared Artistic & literary traditions flourish Sense of social cohesion Shared cultural identity Considered to be an era of classic civilizations The Persistence of Older Forms of Worship Spirit based belief systems Animism- still practiced by a settled society in Shinto