Examine the reasons for the spread of religion in two societies, each chosen from a different region.

The question requires that candidates consider the interrelationships between the various reasons for the spread of religion in two societies, which must be from different regions. Reasons may predate the timeframe, but they must be clearly linked to the issue raised in the question. There may be an examination of the roles of various rulers, for example Byzantine Emperor Michael III, in building on the work of earlier missionaries to Serbia and Bulgaria; or of the roles of Viking kings, such as Harald Bluetooth in Scandinavia. There may be an examination of the role of bad harvests and natural disasters in promoting the spread of religion in, for example, Mochica society. The spread of Islam in the ‘Abbasid kingdoms as a result of the intellectual flowering of the Islamic Golden Age may be examined, while trade played a vital role in spreading Islam to East Africa. Candidates’ opinions or conclusions will be presented clearly and supported by appropriate evidence.

The question required that candidates consider the interrelationships between various reasons for the spread of religion in two societies, chosen from different regions. Few responses were seen mostly consisting of general comments on modern-day religious observance.