This work is a classic example of research in the field of the history of religion. Religious ideas are presented here not only in chronological order but also united by a common understanding of the diversity of religious life across cultures and continents. Eliade masterfully employs the methods of comparative anthropology and demonstrates general trends in the development of religious ideas.
The book is devoted to the most dramatic and important period in the world history of religions. Its title, naturally, does not encompass the ecumenical breadth of the material presented: ancient China and Hellenistic Egypt, European barbarians (Celts and Germans), and Iranian dualism—the fifteen chapters of this book seem to encompass the entire richness of the religious development of the Old World. At the same time, the title has a precise meaning, conveying the core of the book: the formation of world religions, religions of salvation. The book provides a panoramic picture of religions of salvation, from Taoism to Christian Gnosis.