AP World History Key Concept 2.1

Essential Question How did the emergence of new codified religions shape the world politically and culturally and what were the belief systems of these new religions?

Key Concept 2.1 Overview As states and empires increased in size and contacts between regions multiplied, religious and cultural systems were transformed. Religions and belief systems provided a bond among the people and an ethical code to live by. These shared beliefs also influenced and reinforced political, economic, and occupational stratification. Religious and political authority often merged as rulers (some of whom were considered divine) used religion, along with military and legal structures, to justify their rule and ensure its continuation. Religions and beliefs systems could also generate conflict partly because of beliefs and practices varied greatly within and among societies.

Religions around the World Interactive Religion Map Circle the general area of the world’s major religions

Judaism The association of monotheism with Judaism was further developed with the codification of the Hebrew Scriptures into the Torah. The Jewish people became one of the first religions to write down their Holy texts into on book. Creating an organized religious texted helped maintain cultural values among the people. Even when the Assyrians, Babylonians, and Romans conquered the Jewish people and moved them around the Mediterranean they were able to maintain cultural traditions because of their organized religious text.

Hinduism The core beliefs outlined in the Sanskrit scriptures formed the basis of the Vedic religions that became known as Hinduism. The original traditions of Hinduism were a mix of local traditions and traditions brought in by the Indo-European people called the Aryans. Unlike many of the major religions there is no one single founder of Hinduism but a slow combination of local traditions into an semi organized religion. It can trace its origins back to around 2000 B.C.E. The Caste System is a unique organizational system in Hindu society (social control) first brought to the Indian subcontinent by the Aryans and is based on skin color or Varnu because the Aryans were more light skinned people (and outnumber by locals). The Caste system is based around Karma and Dharma and the idea that you are in the place you were meant to be. Reincarnation or rebirth plays and important role in the caste system and where an individual ends up. The goal of Hinduism is to achieve Moksha (or release) from Samsara (cycle of death and rebirth)

Hindu Imagery

Buddhism The core beliefs about desire, suffering, and the search for enlightenment preached by the historic Buddha are called the four noble truths and where a reaction towards the dominant religion in the Indian Subcontinent Hinduism. Crash Course Eventually Buddhism survived in India through the efforts of the Mauryan ruler Ashoka and will eventually spread from India into China via trade routes and missionaries. The goal is to reach enlightenment or Nirvana.

Confucianism Goals was to promote social harmony by outlining proper rituals and social relationships for all people in China, including the rulers. Official state ideology of the Han Dynasty. Some of the basic Confucian ethical concepts and practices include rén, yì, and lǐ, and zhì. All these concepts deal with how people should live thier every day lives and be satisfied with the order of their existence and not question authority. Introduced the scholar gentry into Chinese society. Also the Imperial examination system was brought about to promote the most able in society not those of noble birth.

Daoism/Taoism The core belief of balance between humans and nature assumed that the Chinese political system would be altered indirectly. Go with the flow. Don’t fight what is happening. The Tao or the way. A tree that fights the wind will be destroyed. A tree that bends with the wind will survive.

Daoism’s Effect on China The idea of Fung Shue was brought about by Daoist. The idea was to build building so they are aligned with nature and the heavens. Acupuncture comes from the Daoist beliefs In Chapter 1 of the Tao Te Ching, Lao Tzu wrote: The tao that can be told is not the eternal Tao The name that can be named is not the eternal Name. The unnamable is the eternally real. Naming is the origin of all particular things. Free from desire, you realize the mystery. Caught in desire, you see only the manifestations. Yet mystery and manifestations arise from the same source. This source is called darkness. Darkness within darkness. The gateway to all understanding.

Christianity Based around the teaching of Jesus of Nazareth. Drew on the traditions of Judaism and Zoroastrianism which were prevalent in the area at the time. Despite initial Roman imperial hostility, Christianity eventually was observed by the Romans. Constantine in particular wanted a unifying religion for the empire. He declared the Edict of Milan which declared official tolerance of Christians. Emperor Theodosius the Great declared Christianity the official religion of the Empire. Christianity like Buddhism was originally spread by Missionaries and merchants via the trades routes like the Silk Road.

Greco-Roman philosophy The core ideas in Greco-Roman philosophy and science emphasized logic empirical observation, and the nature of political power and hierarchy. Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle Ideas on how society should be ruled, the importance of the individual, even what makes up the substance of things were discussed by these philosophers. Philosopher like Archimedes were worshiped almost like gods for their knowledge. The knowledge discovered by these thinkers will be forgotten in Europe during the dark ages and will not be brought back until the Renaissance thousands of years later.

Belief systems affected gender roles Buddhism and Christianity encouraged monastic life or to renounce world pursuits. In the early Christian church women played a key role in the religion’s development. But as the religion become larger and more powerful the role of women was lessened and women were not given any leadership roles in the church and were instead encouraged to become nuns and isolate themselves from the world. Hindu traditions pushed the Sati on widowed women where when their husbands died they would throw themselves onto the funeral fire. If they did not then they were dishonored and thrown out of society. Confucianism emphasized filial piety or devotion to ones parents and also devotion to the state. Following this tradition women followed the three submissions. Submission to father (early in life, father could decide her role) Submission to her husband and his family (mother-in-law in particular had a great deal of power of the wife) Submission to her son (more enjoyable and respectable)

Other Religious and cultural traditions Shamanism- is a practice that involves a practitioner reaching altered states of consciousness in order to encounter and interact with the spirit world and channel these transcendental energies into this world. Use in prehistory Nomadic groups between 600 B.C.E. and 600 C.E. will still practice this. Most famous Nomadic group to practice Shamanism were the Mongols. Animism- attribution of conscious life to objects in and phenomena of nature or to inanimate objects. Used in prehistory cultures Animism and Shamanism go together Very prevelent in African cultures

Animism and Shamanism

Ancestor Veneration Is the practice of living family members who try to provide a deceased family member with continuous happiness and well-being in the afterlife. It is a way of continuing to show respect toward them, and it reinforces the unity of family and lineage. Keep a token of the deceased family member in the house. Practiced in Africa East Asia The Andean areas Still practice today if you think about it.

Artistic expressions Greek Comedies Followed a structure like a sitcom of today Common characters that people could relate to Made fun of politicians of the time Greek Tragedies Taught sociality morality rules Explained consequences of not conforming to society Oedipus Rex Indian Epics The Ramayana and Mahabharata, originally composed in Sanskrit and translated thereafter into many other Indian languages, are some of the oldest surviving epic poems on earth and form part of itihāsa, which roughly means tradition, or (oral) history. Taught how it was important to do your duty and remember your place in society. Helped reinforce the caste system in Hindusim and Indian society. Everyone has a job to do in society and if you deviate from your duty bad things happen.

Architecture Greek’s are known for columns. Romans were known for arches Mesoamerica were known for step pyramids Ancient India was known for domes