2.3 Global Religious Developments The Emergence of Civilization | 3000-2000 BCE

Similarities and Differences Religions helped justify developing social/political structures Not all civilizations developed religion and instead, philosophy Similarities and Differences

East Asia Did not develop a religion but had animistic traditions Oracle bones and ancestor worship Believed in a harmonious balance in nature For every yin there is a yang: a hot for a cold; a male for a female One should seek their Dao to find balance Developed philosophy Disliked religious mystery and focused on social righteousness Filial piety: honoring your elders A good home makes a good neighborhood, which makes a good community, which makes a good country

South and Southeast Asia Harappa and Mohenjo Daro probably worshiped “mother” and “father” deities We don’t really know, because ancient Indians were displaced by c. 1500 BCE The Indo-Aryans and Indo-Europeans (a part of a larger tribal group of nomads) The Indo-Aryans would divide society based upon skin color (Dasas “servants/enemies”) Would form the basis of the caste system

The Near (Middle) East Animistic Paganism Nature gods that reflected the environment around them Mesopotamia (Tigris and Euphrates Rivers) Yearly, erratic flooding The Mesopotamians began to view their gods as fickle and erratic The Epic of Gilgamesh (Sumerian king from Uruk) Tells of a great flood by angry gods: one man saves them on an ark Predates the Torah and Judaism Powerful leaders and a powerful priest class emerged Justified by the need to appease the gods Ziggurats: huge temples to the gods

Africa Animistic Paganism The Nile River Valley Nature gods with a rich mythological background The Nile River Valley Predictable yearly flooding Gods were seen as calmer than Mesopotamian gods Pharaoh as leader but also a god Worked with gods, who were calm and consistent, adding to the popularity of the Pharaoh Stability of the state and leadership meant a strong government formed Pyramids built by government-contracted labor Not from slave/Jewish labor (issues with the Torah)

Europe There is little evidence of what religion was like in Europe’s Bronze Age Judging from later Celtic, Germanic, and Nordic religions they were polytheistic With some form of Paganism in relation to nature The adoption of the Christmas Tree came from the Germanic Pagan worship of the tree Evidence of major (possibly religious) structures in Europe: Stonehenge Evidence of sacrificial mounds (animals as well as humans): Danish Bog Man Aligned with times of the year (solstices and the changing of the seasons)

The Americas Little is known about early American religions No written records (languages were spoken, not written) From oral traditions, we know they were polytheistic Pagan gods in relation to nature Construction of massive, religious-based monuments Easter Island heads from Chile

Recommended Resources Independent research Be sure to cite with Chicago Manual of Style with footnotes.1 Suggested reading Human Legacy.2 Make sure the title of the text is in italics (see below). These notes When pulling information directly from me, cite me as a source, the slide title, and the title of the presentation in italics.3 1 Use this website to easily cite your source http://www.bibme.org/. 2 Human Legacy, pages 1-10. 3 Mr. Geier, Political Systems, 2.1 East Asia.