Types of governments and religions Prologue Types of governments and religions

Governments Government = system for controlling society As societies grow, common rules must be set to ensure peaceful society

Governments Monarchy Single person rules Usually called king or queen Power is passed through from generation to generation

Governments Aristocracy Oligarchy Government ruled by small, noble land-owning families Rule through heredity Power based on social class, wealth Oligarchy Government ruled by a few powerful people Often develops from aristocracy when merchant class grows due to trade expansion Rule based on wealth and/or ability

Governments Democracy Rule of the people Only citizens have influence in governments Different types of democracy Direct Democracy = people decide on laws through voting Democratic Republic = people elect their lawmakers

Governments Early statesmen Solon: outlawed debt slavery; changes citizenship based on wealth, not heredity Cleisthenes: founder of democracy in Athens; balanced power between rich and poor; allowed all citizens to suggest laws

Governments Rome establishes a republic Patricians = aristocracy of Rome Claim birthright gave them power to make laws Plebeians = common citizens Could not hold office Twelve Tables Rome’s laws written down Advantage for plebeians

Religions Monotheism = believing in only one God Ex: Judaism, Islam, Christianity Polytheism = believing in more than one God Ex: Hinduism Shiva, a Hindu god

Religons Judaism Religion of the Hebrews Torah = religious text Moses = leads the Jews out of Egypt 10 Commandments given to Moses from God Laws with a moral code First 4 = relationship with God Last 6 = relationship with others

Religions Islam Based on the teachings of Muhammad Followers called Muslims God = Allah Qur’an or Koran = holy book Salvation achieved through 5 pillars of Islam Faith Prayer Almsgiving Fasting Pilgrimage to Mecca

Religions Christianity One God Jesus Christ = messiah (savior) Bible = holy book Christianity spreads due to being banned by Roman Empire

Religions Hinduism Polytheistic Three main gods Soul constantly reborn Enlightenment occurs when all earthly desires sacrificed – comes from lifetime of worship, knowledge, & virtue

Religions Buddhism Buddha = founder Nirvana (perfect happiness) = goal Reached through elimination of attachment to worldly things Nirvana achieved through eightfold path

Religions Confucianism Based on teachings of Confucius Social order based on strong family relationships Respect for parent = paramount Education important for individual and society