1. World Religions and Belief Systems
AP World History 2016

2. Religion vs. Belief System
Religions
Generally are a set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and meaning of the universe and often include the belief in a supernatural being (God)
Belief Systems
Generally are a set of mutually supportive beliefs, which are often religious, philosophical, or ideological and can be a combination of these three

3. Polytheistic vs. Monotheistic
Polytheistic – the belief in more than one god or deity
Ancient religions of the Greeks, Romans, Nordic peoples, Egyptians, Aztecs, etc.
Monotheistic – the belief in one god or supreme being
Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Sikhism

4. Various Ancient Religious Beliefs
Prior to the formation of structured religions around the world, ancient peoples often put their faith in various polytheistic, nature based (Animism), or elemental divinities (Pantheism - god is present in all things AND is the creator).
Many belief systems of the past, and present, incorporate one or more of these outlooks in their ways of understanding the world, and in the practices of their daily lives.

5. Chinese Philosophies Period of the Warring States
As the Zhou dynasty broke down during the 5th –3rd B.C.E, China entered a period of violence and political confusion
Three new philosophies (belief systems) emerge to shape Chinese history
Confucianism
Daoism
Legalism

6. Chinese Philosophies
Period of the Warring States

7. Confucianism
Started by Confucius ( BCE) during the Warring States Period in China
Offers solutions to the problems plaguing China
Focus on life rather than the afterlife
Does not advocate a specific deity
Emphasizes worship of ancestors
Teachings compiled in book known as the Analects
Drawing of Confucius

8. Confucianism Goal is to promote harmony through relationships
Less concerned with political affairs
Five Relationships
Filial Piety – relationship between children and parents
Show respect for elders
Dacheng Temple in Confucius’ hometown of Qufu in China.

9. Confucianism
Emphasized studying and practicing the values of the Five Relationships
Believed those who observed them would gain influence in society
Promoted peace, education, and harmony between people
Traditional Chinese education based on the learning of Confucian values
Government posts earned through cycle of studies of it

10. Social Impact of Confucianism
Becomes foundation of Chinese government
Reinforced importance of patriarchal relationships
Reinforced family as the center of Chinese society
Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Singapore are influenced by Confucian ethics
Family altar in Malaysian Chinese home. Family is inviting ancestors to partake in the Hungary Ghost festival

11. Daoism Emerged about same time as Confucianism Founded by Laozi
Contrasted it and considered it wasteful to try and create solutions to problems that cannot be solved
Political quarreling
Founded by Laozi
Belief that humans should strive to live in harmony with nature
Eventually bring peace and harmony to society

12. Daoism Based on teaching of the Daodejing
Everything revolves around the Dao
Invisible force that governs the world
Goal: create societal harmony by living according to the natural laws of the universe (Dao)
Centers on action of wuwei
“without action” – remove self from engagement in world affairs

13. Impact of Daoism Encourages respect for nature
Heavily influenced Chinese art and literature
Landscape paintings
Yoga and meditation
Hygiene and cleanliness
Medicine
Balance between Yin (feminine, dark) and Yang (masculine, light)

14. Legalism
Philosophy seeking to strengthen and expand the state at any cost
Did not seek principles of relationships of Confucianism and Daoism
Emerged from teachings of Shang Yang

15. Legalism Encouraged the development of strong agriculture and military
Focused on clear and strict laws (hence legalism), with harsh punishment for offenders
Fear as a deterrent to crime

16. Impact of Legalism Belief system of Qin Dyansty
Unify China using Legalist beliefs and put end to the Period of Warring States
Centralized administration
Use of Iron Weapons and Great Wall of China
Later Han Dynasty built on this centralized state about the same time as Roman empire

17. Impact of Legalism

18. Religions of India
About the time of the emergence of the Chinese belief systems, several new religions solidified themselves in the regions of India:
Jainism
Buddhism
Hinduism
All three were heavily influenced by the Vedas and ancient Indian beliefs of reincarnation

19. Jainism
Everything in the universe possesses a soul – humans, animals, plants, rocks, etc…
Need to escape this physical existence to relieve suffering
Do so by observing “ahimsa” or non-violence to other living things or their souls
Taken to extremes by Jainist Monks
Appealed to lower classes because it does not draw distinctions between social groups (castes)

20. Buddhism Founded by Siddhartha Gautama (563-483 BCE)
Commonly known as the Buddha
Life is a spiritual quest to escape the suffering of human existence
Use methods such as meditation, fasting, and vows of silence

21. Basic Beliefs of Buddhism
Four Noble Truths
Life is suffering
Desire causes suffering
End suffering by ending desire
To end desire follow the Eightfold Path
Right view, right intention, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, right concentration
Buddhist Wheel of Life; the eight spokes represent the Eightfold Path

22. Impact of Buddhism Spreads throughout central and SE Asia
The conversion of Ashoka (Mauryan emperor)
Appeals to many lower social classes because did not recognize social distinctions (Castes)

23. Hinduism Began in India c.1500 BCE
God reveals self in many different forms (known as Brahman)
Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva
Krishna
Sacred Texts
Vedas, Bhagavad Gita, Upanishads
Shiva, the Destroyer

24. Basic Beliefs of Hinduism
Souls are reincarnated after death
Ultimate goal is to escape the cycle of rebirth and become one with Brahman (known as Moksha)
Major Ideas
Dharma (duty)
Karma (action)
Samsara (cycle of life)
Moksha (liberation)
Kali, goddess of death and destruction

25. Impact of Hinduism Ultimately becomes religion of India
Gupta Empire adopts it
Leads to development and solidification of the Caste System
“Untouchables” considered the lowest in society based on their rebirth into that class
Think Karma and how their previous life would be perceived

26. I thought we can give this diagram in notes – either in full or have them fill out

27. Social Impact of Hinduism

28. Social Impact of Hinduism

29. Monotheistic Faiths
Several ancient belief systems were Monotheistic (i.e. the Aten Cult in Egypt; Zoroastrianism of Persia)
The three most followed and impactful today are Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.
The first image is the pharaoh Akhenaten worshipping the Sun Disk or Aten. The Second is of the fire that represents purity in Zoroastrianism. I thought mentioning these two was a nice way to show the students that other religions, that also developed in the middle East, influenced the development of the Abrahamic religions of today.

30. Abrahamic Religions
The three “great” monotheistic religions of today all share common origins
All share the same founding figure of Abraham, or pay reverence to him
All share basic core tenets (beliefs), including central figures, prophets, writings, etc.
All worship the same God

31. Judaism Dates back at least to 1000 B.C.E in the region of Egypt
The founding figure is Abraham who is believed to have made a covenant (pact) with God
God made Abraham’s tribe a chosen people who could receive salvation by following God’s core principles of love and faith
God promised Abraham, his tribe, and their descendants a promised land

32. Judaism
Tanakh is the Jewish Bible; the first 5 books is called the Torah (teachings)
Given by God to Abraham and Moses (10 Commandments)
Both Christian and Islamic beliefs are rooted in Judaism
There are around 17 million Jewish people today
I put in the Abraham and Moses thing to allow for a later comparison to Muhammad?

33. Christianity Dates back to approximately the years 0-33 C.E.
Jesus of Nazareth is considered the founding figure
Christianity is based around the teachings of Jesus of Nazareth
The Christian Bible is comprised of the Old (Jewish Bible) and New Testaments (Gospels, etc.)

34. Christianity
Central to the Christian religion is that Jesus is mankind's savior and the son of God
Faith in Jesus and God (usually considered the same) will lead to salvation (eternal spiritual life in heaven)
Salvation is available to all who believe

35. Islam Dates to 610 C.E. on the Arabian peninsula
Muhammad is the founding figure of the Islamic faith
Muslims (adherents) believe that the final instructions for mankind were revealed to Muhammad

36. Islam
Muslims accept that Muhammad is the final prophet of god and that the Qur'an (Islamic holy book) contains the verbatim word of God (instructions for mankind)
Islam incorporates many Judaic and Christian beliefs and values, including God’s (Allah) love and compassion, and salvation for believers

37. Probably provide this in the notes?

38. Spread of Belief Systems

39. Spread of Belief Systems
All belief systems and religions spread for many interconnected reasons, but three main themes include:
Trade
Buddhism into China along the Silk Road
Islam into West Africa along Saharan caravan routes
War and Conquest
Expansion of Islamic empire
Charlemagne's empire across Europe
Spanish Conquistadors conquest of the Americas

40. Spread of Belief Systems
Conversion of Elites (Political, Military, and Commercial leaders)
Ashoka’s conversion to Buddhism
Gupta empires acceptance of Hinduism
Constantine’s conversion to Christianity

41. Major Religions Today by Region