1. Ancient Civilizations: Religions
The Ancient World
Unit 1
Section 2

2. Essential Question
What role did religion play in the way of life of most ancient societies?

3. “Could someone please tell me what the one true religion is in the world?”
“What is the nature of religion?”
“Why do people worship?”
“What is the point of religion?”
Religion – in whatever form it takes – has played a major role in shaping society.
Whether that society was thousands of years ago or exists today.

4. 1. Theistic Beliefs Confucianism
Religion was a large factor in the government of ancient societies
Monotheistic - The belief in one God.
Islam, Christianity, Judaism
Polytheistic – the belief in many Gods.
Hinduism
Atheistic – the belief that there is no god.
Confucianism

5. 2. Judaism Religion of the Hebrews (Jews).
Believed that they were/are Gods covenant people
Centered on sacred texts and traditions.
One of the oldest religions still in practice today
Scrolls of the Torah.

6. A depiction of the Roman crucifixion of Jesus of Nazareth - a Jew.
3. Christianity
Began as an offshoot of the Jewish religion.
Belief that Jesus Christ is the Son of God
Jesus Christ died for our sins
Foundation for the “Golden Rule”; Christians try to apply this to all areas of their lives.
A depiction of the Roman crucifixion of Jesus of Nazareth - a Jew.

7. 4. Islam Based on the teachings of Mohammad.
Absolute unity and omnipotence of Allah, the Muslim God.
The five pillars of Islam.
Recite the profession of faith.
Pray five times a day.
Fast and pray during Ramadan.
Make a pilgrimage to Mecca – once.
Give alms to the Muslim poor.

8. The city is known for the annual Hajj pilgrimage, which being one of the five pillars of Islam, attracts close to 2 million pilgrims.
As part of the Hajj,
each person walks counter-clockwise seven times about the Kaaba, the cube-shaped building which acts as the Muslim direction of prayer;
runs back and forth between the hills of Al-Safa and Al-Marwah;
drinks from the Zamzam Well;
goes to the plains of Mount Arafat to stand in vigil;
and throws stones in a ritual Stoning of the Devil.
The pilgrims then shave their heads,
perform an animal sacrifice,
and celebrate the four day global festival of Eid al-Adha.
As of 2007, an estimated two million pilgrims participated in this annual pilgrimage. Crowd-control techniques have become critical, and because of the large numbers of people, many of the rituals have become more stylized. It is not necessary to kiss the Black Stone, but merely to point at it on each circuit around the Kaaba. Throwing pebbles was done at large pillars, which for safety reasons were in 2004 changed to long walls with catch basins below to catch the stones. The slaughter of an animal can be done either personally, or by appointing someone else to do it.
But even with the crowd control techniques, there are still many incident during the Hajj, as pilgrims are trampled in a crush, or ramps collapse under the weight of the many visitors, causing hundreds of deaths.
Islamic tradition attributes the beginning of Mecca to Ishmael's descendants. In the 7th century, the Islamic prophet Muhammad proclaimed Islam in the city, by now an important trading center, and the city played an important role in the early history of Islam.
The modern day city is located in Saudi Arabia

9. Shiva – Cosmic Dancer. The creator and the destroyer.
5. Hinduism
A conglomerate of diverse beliefs and traditions
Many sacred scriptures called the Vedas.
It is the world's oldest existent religion.
Goal: to reach union with the high god, Brahma. Thousands of gods were worshipped.
Hinduism evolves out of Brahmanic tradition.
Hinduism is a guide to life, the goal of which is to reach union with the high god, Brahma.
In the quest for Brahma, people are to observe dharma, the moral law.
Dharma stipulates the legitimate pursuits of Hindus:
Material gain: as long as it is honestly and honorably achieved.
Pleasure and Love: for the perpetuation of the family.
Moksha: release from the wheel of life and unity with Brahma
NEXT SLIDE: Dharma…
Shiva – Cosmic Dancer. The creator and the destroyer.

10. 5. Hinduism Must obey dharma – or the moral law.
Bhagavad-Gita, ethical text of the Hindu.
In the Hindu quest for Brahma, all Hindu’s must obey dharma or the moral law.
Bathing ritual: A devotee would go into the temple where a statue of the god had been erected, then bathe, clothe, or feed the deity, which took up temporary residence in the statue. Thus people could reach Brahma by devotion to personal gods, usually represented by images.
Devotion to one god did not entail denial of other gods, since ultimately all were manifestations of the divine force that pervades the universe.
The Bhagavad-Gita: The epic tale of Arjuna, a human who is about to ride into battle against his kinsmen. As he surveys the battle field, struggling with the grim notion of killing his relatives, Arujna voices his doubts to his
Vishnu – Preserver – Sustainer of the creator.

11. 6. Buddhism Siddhartha Guatama, 500 B.C.E. Urged the “middle-way.”
The Four Noble Truths.
Siddhartha Guatama, son of a chief, upset over the plight of the poor, left and went off to meditate.
Found that a person could reach nirvana by following the “middle-way.”
Four Noble Truths:
Pain and suffering, frustration and anxiety, are ugly but inescapable parts of human life.
Suffering and anxiety are caused by human desires and attachments.
People can understand their weaknesses and triumph over them.
This triumph is made possible by following a simple code of conduct, the eightfold path.
NEXT SLIDE: Eight Fold Path:
Depiction of Siddhartha Guatama – considered the Buddha.

12. Four Noble Truths:
Pain and suffering, frustration and anxiety, are ugly but inescapable parts of human life.
Suffering and anxiety are caused by human desires and attachments.
People can understand their weaknesses and triumph over them.
This triumph is made possible by following a simple code of conduct, the eightfold path.

13. Eight Fold Path:
1. Right view 2. Right thought 3. Right speech 4. Right action 5. Right livelihood 6. Right effort 7. Right mindfulness 8. Right concentration

14. 7. Confucianism Ethical thinking and NOT religion.
Children are to respect their parents.
Five cardinal relationships.
Repaying and respecting parents and ancestors.
Drawing depicting Confucius

15. Five Relationships between :
Ruler and ruled
Father and son
Older brother and younger brother
Husband and wife
Friend and friend
In each, Confucius said, the superior person should set an example for the inferior one