I. Period of Political Disorder throughout Eurasia (4th-6th Centuries CE)

A. Establishment of Historical Context of the Period

B. Downfall of Han and Roman Empires

II. Rise of Islamic Caliphates and the Early Importance of Islam in Eurasia

A. Political Significance of the Islamic caliphates

B. Advance of Islam across Eurasia

C. Sufism

III. Spread of Buddhism in Asia- an example of cultural syncretism

A. Importance of Buddhist missionaries

B. How Buddhism managed to cross cultural borders and attract followers from different geographic areas of Asia

IV. Spread of Nestorian Christianity across Eurasia

A. History of Nestorian Christianity

B. Overview of Nestorian theological views

C. Selling of Nestorian Christianity to the Chinese

V. Spread of Manichaeism

A. Overview of Manichaeism and its historical roots

B. Appeals of Manichaeism and attacks against it

VI. Analysis and Cross-Comparison of Religious Movements