The distribution of the world's major religions calls for knowledge both of numerical data and geography. This map and table, using contemporary data, also surest which aspects of the world's religious distribution were beginning to solidify at the end of the late classical period and which aspects depended on developments vet to come. Christianity builds up a new culture among its followers. The rituals, the ethereal significance, the interest in spiritual equality--these central themes were far different from those of classical Mediterranean civilizations.