3.3 Global Religious Systems 2000 – 1000 BCE | The Development of Civilization

Similarities and Differences All religious developments would be polytheistic with a supreme divine ruler Religion would come to define cultures differently but all would justify existing social and political structures

East Asia While China would never develop a fully- functioning religion by modern definition, it did have some structure Highly bureaucratic (like its political system) Oracle bones were meticulously kept and marked Tombs were constructed (evidence of an afterlife) Spiritualistic rituals and animistic tendencies Mystical ways of interacting with spirits

South and Southeast Asia The Vedic Period c.1500-1000 BCE The Indo-Aryans justified their victory over the indigenous Indians They would write a series of epics to define their history (the Vedas) This would define their religion and society Hinduism is polytheism with a supreme essence-god Brahma (the creator) and various other manifestations Shiva (the destroyer), Vishnu (the preserver), and many others Life (samsara), reincarnation (varnas), and moksha Emphasized the indigenous tradition of purity (the Ganges)

The Near (Middle) East Tiamat (chaos) The Babylonians assimilated the various gods of Mesopotamia Adopted Sumerian and Akkadian gods The Enuma Elish as Babylon’s creation story c.1750 BCE The Babylonian gods then great the world Light, firmament, dry land, the sun and moon, and man created in order There was also the sacred grove of Anu, which was guarded by sword 1,150 years later, the Israelites would be exiled to Babylon (and adopt this) Canaanites c.1200 BCE Polytheistic: Baal (god of rain), El Elyon (god most high), among others Would influence the Phoenicians, who spread Baal across the Mediterranean Would influence the Israelites, who referenced these gods in their Torah Abraham would speak with El Elyon (polytheistic until later) Marduk

Africa Polytheistic paganism defined human and environmental nature Amun-Ra (supreme god), Osiris (life and death), Anubis (the embalmer) Gods were often combined with other/new gods Isis would become popular in the Greco-Roman world Akhenaten c. 1300 BCE Attempted to push Egypt to monotheism He, would be the one god After his death, Egypt would return to polytheism

Europe Mycenaean cities have few major religious buildings There are various smaller offering sites, perhaps suggesting local deities Some major, regional shrines Suggesting permanent and specialized clerics The Oracle of Delphi

The Americas It is hard to say what the religions were really like The Spanish will destroy all traces they could find What we know is that pre-Columbian peoples Were polytheistic A supreme god alongside a pantheon A Maize god, a mother goddess, and demon gods Sacrificed Animals, plants, and sometimes humans Self-sacrifice was seen as a important honor Built large religious structures Alongside a priestly class, with focus on the stars