“L’Age Pivotal” or The Axial Age or Great Revolutions in Thought and Religion 1000BCE – 350BCE

Comparative Essay Compare how political turmoil led to intellectual and cultural creativity, during the period 1000 to 350 BCE in East Asia and South Asia

The World, c. 500 BCE The Greeks & their mates Mesopotamia Nile Yellow River (Huang He) Indus Most revolutions in thought occurred near one of the four river valley societies.

Generalizations Fringe regions develop on the borders of the river basin hearths Thinkers, teachers, prophets emerge from a world at war New types of political & social organizations emerge Cultural ideas develop into cultural identities “Second Generation” societies Built on predecessors - tended to keep many original traditions

Commonalities of GREAT Revolutions Sanctified (Made Holy): Time: sacred calendar, rituals, events like marriage Space: shrines, pilgrimage sites Language and literature; Sanskrit, Tripitaka, Torah Art: art and music used to inspire religious feelings Organization: membership makes you accepted

CRISIS Each Revolution in Thought occurred at a time of crisis Iron tools made armies more powerful Old societies disintegrating China - Period of Warring States Zhou regime fractured Huge competing Chinese armies Population rising India – Invasion! Aryans moved into India assimilating much of native population Greece – Unrest/search for meaning Unsatisfying religion Warring city states

"We're surrounded. That simplifies the problem!" Case Study I: China "We're surrounded. That simplifies the problem!"

New Ideas Emerge - “The Hundred Masters” Confucius (Kong Fuzi)- Confucianism Searches for clues to good governance Government by junzi (superior man) Laozi - Daoism Follow the order of nature, do nothing Xunzi – Legalism Men & women are innately bad Need for strong authoritarian rule Scholars were bureaucrats & not free thinkers as in Greece & South Asia

Respect yourself and others will respect you Kong Fuzi Respect yourself and others will respect you A person is born with a liking for profit Laozi Xunzi A good traveler has no fixed plans, and is not intent on arriving

Case Study II: South Asia The Vedas - collections of songs and prayers, most important is the Rig Veda The Vedas are a priestly perspective (priests would be interested in maintaining the status quo and their own high positions in society(POV)

Aryan Invasions

Aryans spread from Indus Valley to Ganges Plain Raj- kingdoms- emerged Ruled by Kshatriyas Some are oligarchies Aryan oral traditions is finally preserved using Sanskrit and Prakrit Written alphabet challenged hegemony of Brahmans Upanishads “sitting down near” Discussions about the universe

Hinduism Aryan and Dravidian beliefs fused to create Hindu religion Very defined social order created stability Occupation defined role (Varna) Priests and Teachers Warriors and Nobles Farmers, Artisans and Merchants Landless Peasants and Serfs Jati - sub-castes, occupationally related Untouchables are added later (outcastes) Upward mobility impossible Foreigners are absorbed into the caste system-stability

Gender in Vedic Society Patriarchal Women have no public authority Women explicitly under men’s control Law Book of Manu -second class status of women Sati recommended

New Ideas Emerge Mahavira – Jainism Siddartha Gautama – Buddhism Ascetic – step on no ant! Not possible for peasants Became belief system of traders Siddartha Gautama – Buddhism “Four Truths” Must follow “Noble Eightfold Path” No place for the supernatural Patronized by urban merchants

Non-violence is the highest religion It is better to travel well than to arrive All living beings long to live. No one wants to die Better than a thousand hollow words, is one word that brings peace.

V. Mediterranean Region Don’t forget the Greeks! We won’t!

Comparative Essay Compare how political turmoil led to intellectual and cultural creativity, during the period 100 to 350 BCE in East Asia and South Asia