Eurasian Cultural Traditions 500BCE-500CE

Legalism Strict Rules, Severe Consequences Pessimistic view of human nature Only the state can act in people’s long term interest Focus on military and farming - nothing else was really important Inspired the Qin dynasty (Shihangdui) Discredited shortly thereafter because of brutality

Legalism

Confucianism Confucius - educated aristocrat - teachings collected in “the Analects” Principle - life is unequal relationships - superior people should lead by moral example - superior people should be benevolent and sincere - lesser people should be “inspired” into obedience Education - advocated for broad liberal arts education - application of liberal arts into government

Confucianism Became the central part of education in Han dynasty (after Qin discredited legalism) Family as a model for political life - filial piety - women should be humble and obey men History - spoke of a “golden age” in the past - modest social mobility through education (civil service exams) Confucianism was not religious, it did not discredit spirits and gods; but educated elite had little to do with them.

Confucianism

Daoism Laozi “The Way and Its Power” Dao = “the way” Education and improving oneself is useless Withdrawal to the world of nature Daoism entered popular religion - spirits, magic Provided the ideology for peasant rebellions - Yellow turban rebellion

Daoism

Hinduism Hinduism – the polytheistic religions in India - the term was invented by outsiders No Founder Widely recognized sacred texts created some uniformity The Vedas – Holy Books of Hinduism - compiled by Brahmins (priests, top caste) - told orally until about 600BCE - told of rituals and sacrifices, brought Brahmins wealth and power

Hindu Gods

Hinduism: Upanishads “The Upanishads” developed in response to dissatisfaction with Brahmins - composed between 800-400BCE - Brahman = world soul, atman = human soul - moksha = liberation, or union with Brahman - goal of reincarnation is to achieve moksha - law of karma : one’s actions effects reincarnation - Hinduism: reincarnate one caste at a time

Buddhism Siddhartha Gautama (ca. 566-486BCE) - referred to by followers as Buddha (enlightened one) Central Principle: “All life is suffering” - sorrow’s cause: craving individual fulfillment - cure: living a modest, moral life w/ meditation Goal – to achieve Nirvana “oneness with the universe”

Hinduism/Buddhism Similarities - life is an illusion - karma and rebirth - overcome demands from the ego - escape the cycle of rebirth - practice meditation

Hinduism/Buddhism Buddhist challenges to Hinduism - rejection of Brahmin’s religious authority - individuals take control of their spiritual development - achieve Nirvana from any caste Buddhist Women - offered more independence than Hinduism (though women still considered inferior) - many women converted

Types of Buddhism Theravada - respect for the teachings of Buddha (Siddhartha) - practices, not beliefs - Buddha is not divine, not a god Mahayana - developed in early centuries CE. - Buddha became divine - popular religion of salvation Buddhism eventually spread to China along silk roads during Han dynasty In first millennium, a new popular Hinduism emerged in India w/ stories such as Mahabhrata and Ramayana

Eightfold Path

Four Noble Truths

Zoroastrianism Monotheism first developed in Zoroastrianism and Judaism. Both influenced Christianity and Islam. Ahura Mazda – God of Zoroastrianism - represented truth, light and goodness Spread in Persian Empire Destroyed during Alexander’s Empire

Ahora Mazda

Judaism and Zoroastrianism The Jews borrowed much from Zoroastrianism - idea of God vs. Satan - idea of last judgment and bodily resurrection - belief of a final defeat with the help of a savior - remaking the world at the end of time

Judaism Holy book: Torah (old testament) Prophet: Abraham (burning bush) Covenant with God (Hebrews were “chosen people” in exchange for sole devotion to God) Foundations for Christianity and Islam

Torah

Classical Greece Did not create an enduring religious tradition - system of polytheism and cults Most intellectuals rejected religion - the world is a physical reality governed by natural laws - human reason can create a system for ethical life - growing role of law in Athenian political life

Greek Thinkers (ca. 600-300BCE) Socrates “Apology” - Plato “The Republic” (philosopher kings) - Aristotle Pythagoras – Pythagorean theorem Herodotus – “History of the Persian Wars” Hippocrates – Balance of fluids in the body

Pythagoras

Comparing Buddha and Jesus Differences Gautama was royal / Jesus was lower class Jesus was monotheistic / Gautama ignored the supernatural Jesus was more social and political than Gautama Jesus active for 3 years / Gautama active for over 40 Jesus executed as a criminal / Gautama died of old age

Comparing Jesus and Buddha Similarities - were mystics (claimed another level of spirituality) - challenged conventional values - stressed love and compassion as the basis of morality - transformed into Gods by followers - neither intended to start a new religion

Christianity Becomes a World Religion Process began with Paul (10-65CE) Missionary activities Inclusion of non-Jews Women had more opportunities (still patriarchy) Attraction – miracle stories, caring for each other Christians persecuted in Roman Empire until Constantine converts. Theodosius the Great makes it official religion of Roman Empire (helps unify the empire)

Constantine