Hinduism is believed to be the oldest religion in the world starting during the late Neolithic Era (5500–2600BCE) . While there is no specific founder of Hinduism, the religion has been related to Buddhism and Jainism due to the close connections these religions shared in India during Buddhism and Jainisms creation. Hinduism came close to extinction in the 7th century due to invasion from the Arab nations and forced conversion to Islam. During this time many Hindu temples throughout India were destroyed and only a small portion of the population, concentrated in southern India, remained with the religion until more accepting leaders took over.
Sources: Dom's memory, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hinduism#History
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Learning about the History of Hinduism helped me with my project of Buddhism since Buddhism is the religion that comes after Hinduism and they believe many of the same things. It is very interesting for me to think about the fact that Hinduism is the oldest religion and how it came about and changed our history! Karma is one of the many beliefs that both Hinduism and Buddhism believe in.
Hinduism in southeast Asia: from the 1st century AD
Traders from India, increasingly adventurous as seafarers from the 1st century AD, carry Hinduism through southeast Asia. On the mainland (Burma, Cambodia, the southern part of Vietnam) and in the islands (Sumatra, Java), Hindu kingdoms are established. In later centuries impressive Hindu temples are built. Angkor Wat is merely the best known.
As in India itself, Hinduism and Buddhism coexist in the early centuries. In southeast Asia, Buddhism eventually prevails and Hinduism fades away (except in the small island of Bali). In India, by contrast, Buddhism vanishes in its homeland - leaving the field to the subcontinent's first great religion, Hinduism, and to a newcomer, Islam.
The gods of the Aryans: from 1500 BC
The first traceable roots of Hinduism lie with the invading Aryans, who move into the northwest of the Indian subcontinent from about 1500 BC (see the history of India for recent archaeological arguments against the concept of an Aryan invasion). The Aryans' priestly caste, the Brahmans, are responsible for the sacrificial rites (the most solemn, among this nomadic people, being the sacrifice of a horse). The ritual hymns which they chant, passed down orally for many centuries, are gathered in the Rigveda, the earliest of all religious texts.
The hymns of the Rigveda reveal that the foremost god of the Aryans is Indra, a war god and a great slayer of demons and animals. He is possibly based on a historical leader of the Aryans in their advance into India, for one of his titles is 'city-breaker'.
The two other main gods of the Aryans are Agni, the god of fire; and Soma, a god associated with a drink (also called soma and probably hallucinogenic) which plays a major part in the priests' rituals. In the long term none of these gods feature prominently in Hinduism. But two minor characters are waiting in the wings for a major role.
Vishnu appears in the Rigveda as a sun god who occasionally helps Indra to slay demons. And Shiva (under the name of Rudra) has a small and sinister part, prowling in the mountains, shooting humans and animals with his arrows, and both causing and curing disease.
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