Major Belief Systems & Religions Comparison and influences on the ancient world By Kailey Ruiz

Confucianism in China 400 b.c.e  Confucianism focused on an ethical instead of a religious system.  Confucianism formed the basis for Chinese philosophical and religious beliefs for over 2000 years.  Government leaders embraced it; it was intended to create orderly society.  Created tight-knit communities where members had responsibilities  The technological advancements, scholar-gentry bureaucracy, and agrarian state motivated many great American and European thinkers.  Was the main religion of the Zhou, Qing, Han, Tang, and Song dynasties of China.  RESTRICTED TO CHINA

Buddhism Spread Throughout Asia 483 b.c.e  Buddhists did not believe at all in the caste system but more in dharma  Promoted equality of believers, no social discrimination  Appealed to lower classes  No social structure meant it could apply to anyone - spread to China, Japan, and southeast Asia via trade routes  Emperor Ashoka converted to Buddhism in 260 B.C.E.  Brought about one of the first centers of learning – universities  Stirred strong opposition by Brahmans in India  Anti- Buddhist backlash by Confucian and Dao supporters under emperor Wuzong in 9 th century.  Destroyed shrines and monks were forced to abandon religion

Hinduism in India  Powerful local leaders promoted arts & education  Major Hindu philosophies like Vedanta emerged  Caste system became more enforced  You were born into a caste level and you could not switch levels or intermarry – strictly patriarchal  Brought about social divisions and discrimination between classes  Indian rulers supported the caste system – more power  Medical advancements and improvements to the numerical/decimal system  Social restrictions stirred negative response with the globe  Not accepted by many western nations

Spread of Hinduism

Islam in the Middle East 622 c.e.  Egalitarianism for all believers  5 pillars of faith – concept of jihad  Founded by prophet Muhammad  Later caused tension between Sunnis and Shia: led to Umayyad decline  Gathered large following – leaders converted  Later alarmed Christian leaders – power threat  During Umayyad dynasty the capital was moved to Damascus (Mecca remained spiritual center)  Patriarchal society, but women were respected under the Qu’ran  Veiling  Harem

Catholicism in Europe 15 th century c.e.  Roused religious rivals  Jean Calvin – calvinism, predestination  Martin Luther – Lutheran, disagreed w/ chastity  Protestantism – revolt against Catholic church  Catholic Reformation: major church council to revive Catholic doctrines – response to Protestantism  Catholicism spread with explorers to Philippines, and South America  Calvinists vs Catholics = Treaty of Nantes  Catholicism stirred tensions w/ everyone  Christian unity could not be restored

Eastern Orthodox Christianity: Russia & Byzantine  Hagia Sophia  Emperor Justinian – supported church  Secular rulers headed the church  Disagreed with Catholics on sacrament of communion, priests not marrying and local languages of the church  Leaders excommunicated each other  Religion was localized  Emperors had power over church and state  More secular than the West

Spread of Christianity

Christianity  Christian missionaries traveled to Americas and tried to convert Indians  Built churches & missions, taught the Bible  Emphasis on compassion, eternal life  Appealed to lower class and women  By 3 rd century c.e. became the most influential religion in the Mediterranean  Official religion of the Roman Empire  The West centralized power in the Church  Power came from Rome

Polytheism 600 c.e  Latin America, Greece, and Egypt all had religions with numerous gods who were higher than humans  Mesoamerica:  Gods of rain, agriculture, fire, water, war  Greece:  Gods of the universe, the sea, the underworld, love, wisdom, harvest, battle, music, poetry  Egypt:  Gods of the sun, harvest, death  Was the center of art & architecture  Filled w/ rituals  led to rise of priestly class who controlled interaction between people & gods  Priestly class rose to the top of society

Christians and Muslims in Africa 600 c.e.  Islam entered north Africa in 640 c.e.  Islam’s egalitarianism help African people with the acceptance of new rulers  African kings liked the idea of uniting state and church powers under one ruler  Social stratifications still remained important in African societies  Christian kingdoms:  Nubia  Ethiopia  Translated the Gospels  Strongly resisted Muslim forces/ influence  Attempts by the Portuguese to bring Ethiopian Christianity into the roman Catholic church failed  Ethiopia remained isolated and independent

Judaism 1200 b.c.e.  Became one of the first monotheistic faiths  Promoted ethics  Maintained identity of the people  Both a religious practice and societal custom - a way of life  Gave birth to Islam and Christianity  All 3 believed to be ancestors of Moses, followed the Laws of Moses  No premium placed on converting non-Jews  Kept them in minority position in middle east  Changed the way humankind viewed God:  He was powerful, just, orderly, and linked to proper moral behavior