Northwest Taoism and Mediterranean Religions on the Silk Road An Archaeological Study of Cross-Cultural Religious Exchange and Dissemination

Abstract

The purpose of this thesis is to explore the cross-cultural communication and spread between Northwest Taoism and Mediterranean religions on the Silk Road, and to analyze their historical background, interaction mode and influence on religious thought and practice from the perspective of archaeology. As an important channel for cultural exchanges between the East and the West, the Silk Road has been a meeting point of various religious ideas, cultures and business activities since ancient times. Northwest Taoism, as one of the traditional religions in China, is deeply influenced by Taoist philosophy and emphasizes natural harmony and inner cultivation. At the same time, the religions of the Mediterranean region, including Greco-Roman religion, Paganism and early Christianity, were rich in diversity and complex interactions.

This study first reviews the history and core ideas of Northwest Taoism and Mediterranean religions, analyzes their respective origins, development and main doctrines, and reveals the similarities and differences in culture, philosophy and religious practice. Secondly, the paper discusses in detail the historical background of the Silk Road, especially the mechanism of religious transmission in this region, including trade, cultural exchange and immigration and other factors contributed to the blending of religious beliefs.

Archaeological discovery is an important basis for this study. This paper will discuss the discovery of Taoist relics and Mediterranean religious relics and their role in cross-cultural communication in combination with specific archaeological cases. These archaeological evidences not only provide important clues for understanding the spread of religions, but also provide empirical support for reconstructing the interaction between religions.

Finally, the thesis summarizes the interaction between Northwest Taoism and Mediterranean religion, and analyzes their complementarity and changes in belief, ritual and social life. The study found that the Silk Road was not only a channel for the transmission of material culture, but also a meeting point of ideas and beliefs, which laid the foundation for the development and change of religions in later generations. The purpose of this thesis is to deepen the understanding of the complex relationship between Northwest Taoism and Mediterranean religions, and to reveal the significance of cross-cultural religious exchanges for the development of human culture.